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T H E O F F I CIA L PU B LIC ATION OF HO US T ON S AFARI CLUB F OUND AT I ON • S UMMER 2022
ii HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
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TABLE of
CONTENTS
SUMMER 2022
FEATURES 20 REMEMBERING JERRY MAX HENDERSON
22 THE GOOD & BAD NEWS
ABOUT PUBLIC LANDS IN 2022
By Jeff Crane
26 TROPHY BIRDS OF THE YUCATÁN PENINSULA
By M. Arnold
34 THE SPORTING CHEF: THE FISHMONGER
By Scott Leysath
42 SAVING LIVES: GLOBAL RESCUE MEDICAL ADVISORY SERVICES
62
42 BY GLOBAL RESCUE 46 ESPLANADE TRAVEL: “CREATE YOUR OWN MEMORIES”
20
By Jacky Keith
54 HSCF BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
5 Minutes With HSCF Board Member Jeff Garrett
58 HSCF PH SPOTLIGHT
Meet Alex McDonald of McDonald Safaris & Co.
62 GUNWERKS: GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
By Neal Emery
70 EXPERIENCE THE JUNGLE By Tim Herald
78 TONY HOUSEMAN AND
THE POWER OF OUTDOORS MENTORSHIP
70
By Chester Moore, Jr.
86 SOUTH TEXAS TURKEYS
& FELLOWSHIP: HSCF PARTNER TURKEY HUNT
By Joe Betar COVER ARTWORK:
Sierra Langbell (@sierra_langbell), photo from her Alaska mountain goat hunt that was featured in a previous issue of Hunter’s Horn about LRU training.
4 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
92 DAN L. DUNCAN 2021
SCHOLARSHIP UPDATES
98 LOOKING BACK
By Tommy Morrison
102 DAGGA BOY TRIFECTA By Mike Jines
78
58
34
54
26 102
86
46 SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 5
About Houston Safari Club Foundation Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. ® HSCF has awarded 625 scholarships totaling $2.8 million. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences for hundreds of students each year.
HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information.
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2021-2022 HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION OFFICERS Jeff Birmingham, President Shaun Nelson, President-Elect Matt Pyle, Immediate Past President Will Perry, Vice President Kevin Comiskey, Vice President JD Burrows, Treasurer Jamison Smith, Secretary HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION DIRECTORS 2020-2022 Ross Melinchuk Trey White Jody Simpson James Lofton 2021-2023 Jeff Garrett Monica Williamson Bryan Ray Kevin Ormston Chris Ruhman
2022 Silver, 2021 & 2020 Gold MarCom Awards for Nonprofit Print Magazine
2021 Best Outdoor Publication, Texas Outdoor Writers Association
2020 Folio Ozzie Honorable Mention for Association Magazine Design
HEADQUARTERS STAFF Joe Betar, Executive Director Angi McCarthy, Director of Administrative Services Carla Nielsen, Marketing & Publications Manager Nancy Oka, Director, Events & Membership
2021, 2020 & 2019 American Graphic Design Awards for Publication Design
Nate Silva, Design Consultant Alliance Printing and Graphics Hunter’s Horn™ is published quarterly by Houston Safari Club Foundation 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 265 Houston, Texas 77079 713.623.8844 (p) 713.623.8866 (f) info@wehuntwegive.org wehuntwegive.org
2022, 2021, 2020 & 2018 Communicator Awards for Print Distinction
2021 Gold Davey Award, Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts
© Copyright 2022 Houston Safari Club Foundation
HSCF. We Hunt. We Give. 6 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Houston Safari Club Foundation welcomes contributing articles, photos and research. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right to edit submissions for spelling, grammar, clarity, organization and punctuation and to abridge length. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right not to publish submissions. Content may not be repurposed without the express written consent of the author and publisher. Please submit materials with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish materials to be returned. Houston Safari Club Foundation is not responsible for lost or unsolicited submissions. Digital submissions are preferred. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to Houston Safari Club Foundation, its members, employees or affiliates. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right to refuse any advertisement believed to be incompatible with our mission or deemed competitive or contrary to the best interests of Houston Safari Club Foundation.
U PCOMING EV EN TS AUGUST 13
OCTOBER 6
50th Anniversary Party at Conroe Taxidermy RSVP Required
Clay Crushing for Youth at Greater Houston Sports Club
SEPTEMBER 7
DECEMBER 8
Mike Arnold at the Petroleum Club of Houston
JANUARY 20-22, 2023 HSCF Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention at GRB and Hilton Americas Houston
Christmas Party at Cadillac Bar Houston
Go to WeHuntWeGive.org/upcoming-events to register or for more information!
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 7
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE JEFF BIRMINGHAM, HSCF PRESIDENT
W
hile taking a break from the all too early Texas heat, I browsed through my emails and social media, and as was indicated during our Convention earlier this year, our HSCF members and friends were ready to get on with life. I put the finishing touches on the two hunts I booked during our Convention and conferred with several other members on the hunts they had booked. Hopefully this return to “normalcy” will be permanent, but after the last two years and seeing how quickly our rights and civil liberties can be infringed upon, I think we would all be wise to stay vigilant and reinforce our commitment to hunting, conservation, and youth education. The staff and the Board of Directors of HSCF have done a great job over the last few months planning for next year’s Convention and all the remaining activities of 2022. Some big events remaining for 2022 are our 50th Anniversary Party in August at the Conroe Taxidermy showroom and the Clay Crushing for Youth clay shoot in October, both events you will not want to miss! Over the past three months, under the leadership of Grants Chairman, James Lofton, and the guidance of our Treasurer J.D. Burrows, HSCF has continued to fund conservation and hunting programs with much-needed resources aligned with our mission. These grants are an investment in our future. I hope that you and your family are enjoying the great outdoors. As a member please be sure to attend the monthly meetings and events. Your involvement is critical to HSCF and as I found out, you only get out what you put in. Our members are our strength! It is an honor to serve you as president. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out. At your service,
Jeff Birmingham HSCF President
8 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR‘S
MESSAGE
JOE BETAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A
s a young boy, I would look with wonder through the pages of my grandfather’s Farmer’s Almanac. He always had a copy around as a reference for planting seasons and would depend on the publication’s moon phases section when he planned his hunting and fishing trips. I was especially fond of the “Nature” section which featured articles about wildlife, animal tracking and how to observe nature ‘s signs for success in the outdoors. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is still around today. According to this year’s publication: summer will be hotter than normal, with the hottest periods in late June and from mid-July into mid-August. Rainfall will be slightly above normal in the north and below normal in the south. Watch for a tropical storm in mid- to late June. September and October will be warmer and drier than normal. A hot, dry spring and summer does not bode well for nature and we have already seen raging wildfires inflict their damage across several states. We can only hope that people enjoying the outdoors this summer will take extra precautions in preventing wildfires, for the sake of flora and fauna. I am excited about the slate of monthly meetings and events we have planned this summer. On August 13th, we will commemorate HSCF’s 50th Anniversary with a big party at Conroe Taxidermy. Thank you to the Simpson family for hosting this grand event which will feature music, food, raffles and a live auction. We expect a big turnout as we join together to celebrate HSCF and the people who had the vision to begin this incredible organization so many years ago. On September 7th, we will gather at the Petroleum Club of Houston to hear the stories of Mike Arnold. Mike is a hunter, professor, research scientist, outdoor writer, and now author. He will be discussing hunting as a conservation tool and registered attendees will receive a free, signed copy of his new book, “BRINGING BACK THE LIONS: International Hunters, Local Tribespeople, and the Miraculous Rescue of a Doomed Ecosystem in Mozambique”. On October 6th, we will conduct our youth programs fundraiser—the Annual Sporting Clays Tournament, Clay Crushing for Youth, at Greater Houston Sports Club. Be sure to register for these events. Welcome to our new 2022-2024 Directors and 2022-2023 Officers. You will see more information about these staunch supporters of HSCF’s mission in the next issue of Hunter’s Horn™. My sincere thanks to those who have served HSCF so responsibly over the past term. We all look forward to bigger and better things as HSCF continues to grow and have a greater positive impact on the future of hunting. In regard to impact, HSCF has awarded over $92,500 in grants this fiscal year. Recent grant recipients include The Ivan Carter Wildlife Alliance, OATH Veterans hunts, the Higher Calling Wildlife project, Trinity Oaks Foundation’s youth program, Sportsman’s Alliance and Operation Game Thief. July is the month in which HSCF awards its annual Dan L. Duncan Scholarship awards to twenty-five students 10 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
majoring in wildlife management, range management and associated majors. These students, our future key decision makers in the outdoor world, will each receive a $6,000 scholarship to assist in the continuation of their studies. Here’s some news for HSCF members—changes to the Annual Hunting and Photo Awards. New rules and categories have been added and the winners will be recognized at a new annual event to be held in May of 2023. In the past, these awards were presented at the Friday night banquet of our annual convention. The new date allows more time for submissions and for a special night to recognize the winners. See all the details at hscfdn.org/membership/awards/. While we’re at it, let’s talk about the 2023 Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention. The theme of our 2023 event will be MISSION: ADVENTURE! We are already planning a great weekend for you. We would like to welcome BOYDS Hardwood Gunstocks as our 2023 Convention Presenting Sponsor. In addition, these partners have pledged their support of HSCF’s mission and deserve our recognition and support: Capital Farm Credit, FORLOH Technical Apparel, Conroe Empire Electric, McCorvey Construction, Conroe Taxidermy, Ruple Properties, Alliance Graphics & Printing, Strategic Construction, Space City Services, Gunwerks, and Cokinos Law Firm. In closing, I would like to recognize Carla Nielsen, HSCF’s Marketing & Publications Manager, our partners at Madavor Media and Alliance Graphics and Printing and our incredible contributing writers. Your Hunter’s Horn™ magazine was honored as the 2021 Outdoor Publication of the Year by the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association and was awarded a 2022 Silver Marcom Award for Design Magazine. Magnificent work by everyone involved in putting together what I consider to be the premier hunting and conservation journal. In support of hunting and conservation,
Joe Betar Executive Director, Houston Safari Club Foundation
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 11
HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Bob Abernathy John Abraham Charlotte Alexander Richard Alexander Daniel Allford Crystal Allison Shannon Alston Michael Ambrose Anne Avara Jacob Avara Skip Avara Paul Babaz Camp Bailey Cope Bailey Freddie Bailey Kenneth Bailey Frank Baird Jo Baird Mike Baird Jack Barksdale L. Irvin Barnhart * Wendy Barnhart-Lamplough Steven Beatte James Bell Lyndel Berry Tony Bessette Charlotte Betar Joe Betar James Biggerstaff Jeff Birmingham Craig Boddington Werner Boeer Jay Bonano E. Bond Greg Bond Pete Bonora Jeri Booth Frederick (Tony) Box Luanne Bozeman W. Steven Bozeman James Braus John Bridgwater Jack Brittingham Elizabeth Brueggeman Mark Brueggeman Joe Bruno Aaron Bulkley Matt Burke Robert Burke Byron Burris Grady Burris Quint Burris Angela Burrows JD Burrows
12 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Prentiss Burt Daniel Butler Ann Butts Turner Butts Don Byrne C. Jack Cagle Dennis Cain Thomas Cain Rick Callison Alex Campbell Bill Carter * Ivan Carter Paul Carter Ben Case Barbara Cavender-Lewis Preston Cavner Chris Caywood Tracey Cearley Alan Cegielski Doug Centilli Christopher Clark James Clark Steve Clark Craig Clendenin Michael S. Clifford Jordan Coale Stephen Coale Keith Coleman Randall Coleman * Russell Coleman Joe Collett Dwayne Collier Frank Comiskey Hunter Comiskey Kevin Comiskey Alan “Bink” Cooke Dian Cooper Rocky Cooper George Councill Steve Crawford Steve Crawford Kenneth Crockett Gary Crouch Deb Cunningham Ford Cunningham Linda Cunningham Ralph Cunningham * Ralph Daigle Joe Davis Laurent Delagrange Armando DeLeon Armando DeLeon Charlie Desautels Elliot Desautels
Jen Desautels Perry Dillon Randy Donato Barry Donoho Tim Doucet Megan Doyel James (Red) Duke * Dannine Duncan Jan Duncan Scott Duncan Bruce Edwards Robert Elkins Walton Eller Susan Ellerbeck * Gary Ellison Will Ellison Shaun Essery Travis Findley Charlene Floyd Tommy Fogle Randy Fowler Nathan Foyil * Michael Franklin Bobby Frederick Aaron Freeman Nichol Freeman Donald French Warren Gallant Jeff Garrett Randal Garrett Scott Garrett Tanya Garrett Zachary Garrett Paul Geiger Frank Giacalone Aurelia Giacometto Salvatore Giannetti Gary Glesby Carl Godfrey Russell Gordy Jeff Gorski William Gouldin Sandra Green Kevin Gregory Edward Guinn Dodd Hackman Clayton Hagerman Cory Hall James Halley Greg Harvey Vickie Hayes Charles Head Jerry Henderson * Mark Herfort
Heinert Hertling Robert Hibbert Greg Hill Loren Hill Steven Hill Nicholas Hinze Suzanne Hixson Edward Hoffman William Holder Bill Honza Mike Howard Toby Huerta Gene Human Tanya Hurlburt Terry Hurlburt Harold Inman * Justin Itzel Keith Itzel John Jackson Jack Jensen W.A. “Bill” Jentsch Clay Johnson Todd Johnson Robert Jones Harris Junell Darrell Kainer David Kalich Susan Kalich Kirk Kanady Michelle Kangas Gaye Kelsey John Kelsey William Kelsey Julianne King Mark King Rick Kirk Jim Klentzman Robert Kneppler Amanda Knutson Dustin Knutson Philip Koehne George Kollitides Tommy Kolwes Phil Koonce George Kopecky Donald Kriley Bruce Lachterman Keith Lake Fred Lamas Wayne LaPierre Joel Latham Kyle Lehne Richard Leibman John Lindholm
HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Eric Lipar Tom Lipar Bryant Littlefield Mark Livesay Brannon Lloyd Ricardo Longoria Cody Loverin Doug Luger David Mafrige Shane Mahoney Paige Manard D Martin John Martin James Masten Chad Matherne Wyatt McBride Mitzy McCorvey Tony McCorvey Ed McCrory Michael McGrath Travis McWilliams Gerald Meinecke Chris Metz Lewis Metzger Greg Mills Brook Minx Howard Monsour Forrest Montealegre Paul Montealegre G.L. Moore Reed Morian Tommy Morrison Ron Mostyn Dustin Mykyte Jason Nash Shannon Nash Bob Neese Rob Neilson Scott Nelson Shaun Nelson William B. Newlin Rudy Nix K. Nunnally Carol O’Day Kerry O’Day Charles Onstead Kevin Ormston Neal Overstreet John Painter Kim Pankonien Michael Park Michael Parr Steve Pate Colton Payne
Shannon Payne Trevor Penny John Pepper Melanie Pepper Grant Perry Stephanie Perry Will Perry Justin Peter Timothy Peter Bryce Phillips Carson Phillips Dusty Phillips Phil Phillips Wilson (Woody) Phillips Thomas Powell Kevin Poynter Andrew Pratt Kymberly Pratt Charles Prince Sharon Propes Matt Pyle Carlos Ramirez Bryan Ray Christina Ray Lawrence Rearick William Reed Gayle Rettig Tim Richardson Keith Riggs Theresa Riggs David Ristau John Robberson Eric Robinson Larry Robinson Mike Robinson * Chuck Rod Robert Rod * Stephen Rogers William Rohrbach William Roosevelt Gary Rose Mark Rose Jerry Rubenstein Chris Ruhman John Rulon Gerald Russell Byron Sadler Zach Sager Michael Sample William Sample Michael Sandeen Joseph Sayers Corey Schaefer Scott Scheinin
Robert Scherer Wade Schindewolf Adam Schindler George Severence Wayne Sheets John Shelby Richard Shepherd Jason Shrieve William Simmons Austin Simpson Autumn Simpson Barret Simpson Becky Simpson Dawn Simpson Jacob Simpson Jody Simpson Michael Simpson Mike Simpson * Travis Simpson Tristan Simpson Weston Simpson Charles Sitomer Sam Skipper Carter Smith Cooper Smith Jason Smith Mandy Smith Steve Smith * Tom Snyder Norman Speer James Stacy Kaylee Stacy Mary Edith Stacy Larry Stifflemire Mark Stouse Randy Strickland H. Stuart Greg Stube David Swan Dr. Lloyd Swiedom Sally Swiedom Leah Symens Ross Symens Tyler Symens Peter Tam Stephen Tam Larry Tatom Terry Taylor Mark Terpstra Robert Thomas Heidi Thomas-Kersh J.B. Tinney * John Tobin Pete Trammell
Ted Trout * Hal Tryon Don Turner Aart Van Den Brink Jason Vanderbrink Phillip Veale Thom Venus Amanda Vick William Vick Juan Villaveces Glenn Vincent Jeffery Vinson Pierre Vorster Joshua Walker Greg Walla Rob Walsh John Waltz Dana Weber Rick Weber Larry Weishuhn Brian Welker Denise Welker Robert Wells Brian Welsh Lawrence West Matt West James Whaley Laurie-Leigh White Trey White Bruce Whitmire Bill Wilkinson * Ron Willenborg Steve Willenborg Gregory Williamson Monica Williamson Alan Winslette Robby Winstead Kurt Wiseman John Wood Bill Woodall J.D. Woods Patricia Woods Debi Young Preston Young Brian Zaitz
* Deceased
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 13
HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B F OU N DAT ION
COR POR ATE MEMBER S TH A NK YOU F OR SU PPORTING HSCF
Brush Country Studios / Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studios brushcountrystudios.com
Alaska Skookum Guides alaskaskookumguides.com
Barry Fleet Services barryfleetservices.com
Capital Farm Credit capitalfarmcredit.com
Champion Ranch huntchampionranch.com
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Gsell’s Whitetails gsellswhitetails.com
Hawkeye Hunting Club hawkeyehunting.com
HomeLand Properties homelandprop.com
Hutchinson Rack Attack huntrackattack.com
miltonlakelodge.com
Oilfield NextGen oilfieldnextgen.com
Ruple Properties southtexasranches.com
Savé Valley Conservancy savevalleyconservancy.org
®
SilencerCo silencerco.com
14 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Whitetail Properties Real Estate whitetailproperties.com
WildLife Partners wildlifepartners.com
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Glenn Callahan
Jessica Hise
James Patsy
Bradley Carlon
Benjamin Hogue
Jeremy Purvis
James Cartellone
Bruce Hotze
Samuel Rabalais
James Cartellone
Raymond Hughes
Elisha Reed
Mark Cocklin
Gregory Hutson
Michael Reed
Dean Crocker
Luz Itzel
Michael Rhea
James Danford
John Jarzynski
Joey Robinson
Charles Davis
Zac Keim
Jess Robinson
Cody DeWandeler
Patrick Kilbarger
Mark Rockwood
Dan Dunaway
Wesley Kliphardt
George Rooke,Jr.
Sean Easton
Amanda Knutson
Bruce Roth
Michael Eckert
Steven Lazewski
Garrett Ruple
Tom Egelhoff
Ted Leitch
Kristen Salazar
Brandon Ellerby
Brian Lemke
Peter Sanok
Darrin Ellero
William Link
John Sicola
Gustaf Elliott
Timothy Long
Robert Simpson
Connor Fleming
Timothy Long
Tyler Smith
George “Clayton” Fletcher
kirk lowry
Jeffrey Smith
Raleigh Flowers
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Thomas Smith
Tom Ford
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Thomas Forstner
Richard Marceau
Benjamin Smith
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Beau Martonik
Rebecca Spring
Michael Garrison
Gerald Mathis
Dan Stables
Jesse Georgio
Frederick Mathwig
Daniel Terbeek
Luke Gilbert
Rebecca May-Pope
Steven Theiss
William Gingerich
Blake McClard
Troy Thompson
Brodie Goette
Alexander McDonald
Larry Tracy
James Goldsmith
John McDonald
De van Wyk
Garry Griswold Jr.
Sam McHard
Hardus van Zyl
Richard Grueter
Jon McMahon
Ronald Vining
Jay Guthrie
Joe Meister
Todd White
Gunner Hall
Kashay Mendes
Nolan Wieber
Patrick Haren
Steven Michaud
Brian Wilson
William Hayward
Taryn Miller
Elliott Winn
Paul Hemming
Steven Mitby
John Wondzell
Nick Hendricks
David Nowakowski
John Zabaldano
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 15
SCT CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE DEREK HAM, SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT CHAIRMAN
SPONSORS Corporate Sponsors Wildlife Partners Capital Farm Credit FORLOH
Cap Sponsor COKINOS
Shooting Towel Sponsor Strategic Construction
Beverage Sponsor Alliance Printing & Graphics
Score Card Sponsor Space City Services
Individual Station Sponsors Capital Farm Credit Wildlife Partners COKINOS FORLOH
S
uns out, guns out! And I do mean that literally. Summer is here and it’s time to get your favorite shotgun out to practice shooting for the HSCF Annual Clay Shooting Event “Clay Crushing for Youth.” Save the date, Thursday, October 6th, to meet us at the Greater Houston Sports Club for a day of fun and fellowship. Last year, the proceeds for this event went towards the future of hunting and our hunting heritage - our youth - and this year will be no different. We enjoy these freedoms to hunt and live the hunting lifestyle and, by participating in this event, we help preserve these rights with the programs designed by HSCF to educate our youth. Registration will begin at 11:00 am and wrap up at 4:00 pm. The famous Red River BBQ will provide lunch and we will even have beer provided by Karbach! We had great support last year from all our sponsors
16 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
and are seeing those sponsorship opportunities go quickly this year as well! Please call or email Nancy Oka at 713-623-8844 or nancy@wehuntwegive.org to find out what sponsorships are still available or to register a team. If you want to shoot and don’t have a team, we’ll make sure and get you on one! More than just a shooting event, it’s always a great time to catch up with friends, make new ones, and network. We will have raffles and games as well. Some items included in this year’s raffle are a Silencer Central Banish 30 Suppressor, Lucho Cigar and Tequila package, a handmade knife from awardwinning knifemaker Bill Ruple and many more, you’ll want a chance at winning. So come out and see us on October 6th, have fun and support a great cause! We’ll see you there! Derek Ham 2022 Sporting Clays Tournament Chairman
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 17
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REMEMBERING
JERRY MAX HENDERSON
Jerry was a founding member of Houston Safari Club, back in 1972. He has served as president, vice president, secretary, and HSC director. Jerry co-chaired the HSC Convention, “Game Trails Across the Continents” in 1987 and was a fixture at every HSC convention, serving as the exhibitor liaison. Jerry served on the HSCF Grants Committee and was the exhibitor Chairman for the 2015 HSC Convention. He was the recipient of “The HSC Outstanding Service Award” in 1976, 1977, and 1978; “The HSC President’s Award” in 1986, 1987, and 2000; “The HSC President’s Valuable Service Award”; the “Chapter Member Award” 1997; the “Trail Blazer Award” 1997; and “The Frank Green Award” in 2006. Jerry was a co-author of the first “SCI Records of Big Game” along with being the first Rowland Ward Measurer in Houston, Texas. He proudly procured firearms and equipment for AWLS since its inception. He chaired numerous committees, sponsored programs, and was a Life Member of the NRA since 1973.
In his professional life, Jerry was a real estate broker, specializing in ranch property. He was a Sergeant in the Army, Master Gardener, and 32nd degree Mason. Some of Jerry’s proudest accomplishments by HSC included the fact that HSC was one of the first organizations to support Operation Game Thief and the bighorn sheep program in Texas. In his later years, he called the office every time an issue of Hunter’s Horn was published, to tell the staff how much he liked it and how proud he was of the publication. His favorite pastime was clay shooting where he enjoyed the camaraderie as much as the shooting. Jerry is survived by his wife, Carole, his sisters-in-law Cheryle Knapp and Elizabeth Knapp, his sister Bobbie Granberry, and numerous nieces and nephews in addition to the numerous HSCF members who knew and loved him. While he will be missed, Jerry left us with a powerful and purposeful legacy - Houston Safari Club. Jerry Max Henderson passed away on April 5, 2022. A private family memorial was held. ★
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 21
The Good & Bad News about Public Lands in 2022
BY JEFF CRANE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF CSF
T
he early months of 2022 have proven to be a busy but rewarding time in the conservation policy arena. Specifically, there have been a number of opportunities to engage at both the state and federal levels concerning public access issues. As the leading authority in the sporting-conservation space, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is dedicated to engaging with lawmakers throughout the country to promote policies that increase access and opportunity, while standing against misinformed and shortsighted legislation and other efforts to undermine our sporting heritage. On a high level, 2022 has seen numerous victories for public hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting access on the federal level, while state level policy making has been a mixed bag. As most in the outdoor sporting community are aware, the federal government owns approximately 640 million acres of land, which is the equivalent of 28% of the roughly 2.3 billion acres that make up the United States’ land area. The overwhelming majority of this land is in the western portion of the Lower 48 and Alaska, where four federal agencies are the primary landowners: the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. For many of you, the ability to hunt, fish, trap, or target shoot may hinge completely on access to these federal lands, especially if you live west of the 100th Meridian. In addition to federal land ownership, there are 10 states where the state government itself owns at least 10% of the land. All told, state and federal governments account for approximately 43% of land ownership in the country by acreage, at just shy of 1 billion acres. This staggering figure underscores just how crucial it is to the sporting community specifically, and our country, to get public lands right. Perhaps the greatest concern in 2022 has been the events that have unfolded in Alaska. Deferred from 2021, a motion by the Federal Subsistence Board was adopted in March to close millions of acres of Federal lands to non-local hunters. This measure, which closes off caribou and moose hunting in Game Management Units 23 and 26a, is not only for non-residents of Alaska but also for non-local Alaska citizens. Against the objections of the Alaska Department of Game and Fish, an unelected eight-member panel voted unanimously to close the aforementioned lands between August 1-September 30 of 2022-2024. While this decision was a tremendous blow to Alaska’s sporting heritage in and of itself, it also sets a dangerous precedent for management going forward. In this case, there is no data that supports the given rationale by the board, and the decision was made in the face of widespread objection from a variety of stakeholders. In addition to land closures, CSF has also been vigilant to the threats against the ability of state fish and wildlife agencies to own and acquire land for public access. In Iowa, CSF weighed in on 22 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Senate File 2312 (SF 2312) which sought to cap the price that county conservation boards and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources may pay when purchasing lands in the state. While proponents of this bill claim it is necessary to ensure that private lands remain available for the next generation, it is important to remember that most land transactions entered into by a state agency are made between the agency and willing sellers. In response, CSF submitted a letter of opposition to SF 2312, emphasizing the importance of public land access to the outdoor way of life while advocating for the rights of private landowners to sell their property according to their wishes. Additionally, in Oklahoma, similar talking points were used in support of House Bill 3280, which sought to cap land ownership by both state and federal agencies within Oklahoma’s borders. In a further jab at the rights of landowners to make decisions regarding their property, this bill also sought to limit the length of voluntarily established easements on private lands, another concept gaining traction across the country. At CSF, we believe in working with stakeholders at all levels to promote conservation while maintaining and enhancing access for sportsmen and women, and by extension, protecting and promoting hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting for future generations. Again, the points raised by those in support of these measures often focus on concerns related to a perceived lack of private lands available for the next generation of landowners. However, what many may not take into account when examining these types of bills is the fallout they could lead to, not only for our ecosystems but also for rural economies that are reliant on sporting dollars. In their Hunting In America report, the National Shooting Sports Foundation rightly pointed out that, “Hunter spending is the lifeblood of countless small businesses in rural communities nationwide, and hunters make up the main source of wildlife conservation funding.” This, coupled with the importance of conservation activities on public and private lands, as well as the ability of private landowners to make their own decisions regarding their property, refute many of the arguments raised by proponents. Finally, in February, two bills, House Bill 1674 (HB 1674) and Senate Bill 1839 (SB 1839), were introduced in Tennessee. If passed, these bills would have transferred ownership and management authority of the Yanahli Wildlife Management Area (WMA) from the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency to Maury County. In response to these bills and in defense of hunting access on the 12,800-acre WMA, CSF and partners signed onto an action alert opposing both bills. Subsequently, HB 1674 and SB 1839 were withdrawn due to the strong opposition from the hunting community. The concerns around this type of transfer are numerous but primarily are two-fold. Firstly, lack of public access to huntable lands and fishable waters are primary drivers of individuals abandoning the sport. This disengagement has many downstream effects, none of which are positive. When hunters are lost, not only is there an
intrinsic loss to the individual and their connection with nature, but there is also a financial and, by extension, ecological impact. Without sportsmen-generated dollars, funding for wildlife conservation efforts would be greatly diminished. In fact, in 2021 alone, sportsmen and women in Tennessee contributed nearly $61 million to conservation funding through the “user pays – public benefits” structure known as the American System of Conservation Funding. Secondly, this type of land transfer opens the door for mismanagement by the authority to whom the property is transferred. While not a given, the possibility remains that the land will become incompatible with the needs of the sporting community...if public hunting access is even maintained. In this specific instance, Maury County has neither the resources nor the expertise to manage almost 13k acres of wildlife habitat. Simply put, wildlife habitat would be better managed by the experts with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, not the county. On the positive side, a landmark victory was achieved in Virginia earlier this spring when Governor Youngkin signed bipartisansupported Sunday hunting legislation into law. Starting in July, Virginia’s hunters will no longer be discriminated against via outdated laws that previously barred them from hunting public lands on Sundays. Many years in the making, this legislation received overwhelming support from both parties and brought public lands up to speed with private lands where Sunday hunting has been legal since 2014. This is especially important for hunters who may not otherwise have been able to get afield Monday-Saturday, whether it be because of work obligations, family priorities, or a myriad of other factors. Of course, this will also bring in added conservation dollars via the sale of licenses. Similar forward progress is happening in South Carolina, where the House of Representatives passed House Bill 4614 which directs the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to promulgate regulations to allow Sunday hunting on WMAs. The legislation would pave the way for South Carolina’s hunters to have seven-day access to roughly 1.1 million acres of public lands. In Georgia, HB 1349, which updates the No-Net-Loss statute, is awaiting the signature of Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Governor Brian Kemp after passing both the House and the Senate unanimously. No-Net-Loss is a policy that limits the loss of sporting access by establishing a minimum acreage of publicly owned land. In this specific instance, Georgia’s previous accounting from 2005, which protected 300,000 acres for hunting access, will be updated to reflect the more than 200,000 acres which have become part of the public trust over the past 17 years. According to Georgia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Rep. Jason Ridley, “This legislation is about protecting hunting and fishing for future generations. With this update to our No-Net-Loss law, more than half a million acres of state-owned hunting land will now be protected.” Public lands problems are not always black and white, and this year Idaho took a creative step toward addressing some of its imbalances via funding mechanisms. At issue is the trend toward big game depredation in the state, which in many cases can be attributed to said game moving towards private cropland. During periods of low natural forage, public lands hunters are at an inherent disadvantage because of the understandable movement of these species to areas of greater bounty. In response to these concerns, the legislature advanced a number of priorities, which in sum will free up over $2 million for hunting and fishing access, a de-facto reimbursement for depredation. In Washington D.C., the MAPLand Act was signed into law on
CSF’s Digital Media Assistant Hannah Finley with an elk antler from the rough, rocky country of Northern Arizona.
April 29 by President Biden. A CSF priority for many years, this legislation will put financial resources into place for federal agencies to digitize records and update critical mapping information. For example, at the current time, estimates indicate that the Forest Service has only digitized about 14% of their recorded easements. In many places throughout the U.S., access to public lands themselves is enough of a challenge. When outdated information and a lack of clarity is added into the mix, it creates a recipe for disaster in terms of hunter engagement on public lands. As another sign of the wide-spread bipartisan support for sportsmen and women, the MAPLand Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on an impressive vote of 414-9, and the Senate unanimously. Elsewhere in the nation’s capital, the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior formally reestablished the Federal Lands Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), which will provide funding for high-priority conservation areas via the sale of strategic federal lands. Of the greatest interest to the sporting community is the agreement’s provision that requires federal agencies to consider the “extent to which the acquisition of the land or interest therein will increase the public availability of resources for, and facilitate public access to hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities” when prioritizing land acquisitions under FLTFA. Not only does this agreement supply an opportunity to increase access via new land purchases and breaking down barriers to inaccessible public lands, but it also represents a significant step toward sportsmen and women being put into consideration during the policy-making process. Sadly, many of the policies that govern public land, such as the Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act of 1960 or the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, do not have specific requirements in place to consider a hunter’s ability to engage with the land. Victories like FLTFA show the progress that sportsmen and women have made in the policy arena, where our financial impact and strong constituency cannot be discounted. In the conservation policy arena, there is never a dull day and the season is always open. While we celebrate the important victories achieved already in 2022, we as sportsmen and women must keep a close eye on policy-making not only in our own backyards but in the country as a whole. The beauty of our public lands is that they are entrusted to all of us as Americans, but that trust also comes with a responsibility. We believe in expanding access, informed science-based wildlife management, and policies that put America’s original conservationists, sportsmen, and women, at the forefront. ★ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 23
24 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 25
Great Curassow, Tigre and Author
26 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Trophy Birds of the
Yucatán Peninsula BY M. ARNOLD
I knew I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t help myself. I glanced straight down. The ground was some 30 feet below, and I was hanging in clear air by two knots at either end of my nylon hammock. My Mayan-descendent guide, Tigre ( Jaguar), was the knot-tier. I trusted he knew what he was doing, but still, it was a long way down. With my camo face-covering in place, I cradled the Ithaca Model 37, Featherlight, 12 Gauge pump shotgun across my lap. Loaded with BB-charged shells, I hoped I would shoot straight enough to bring down our intended quarry.
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 27
Tigre and I were ‘on stand’ in the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula’s Dry Tropical Forest. Containing a mesmerizing mixture of exotic plants and animals, the forest extends across much of the Peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Mexico. Three days earlier I watched the landscape flow past as my Mayan-Mexican driver, Raul, ferried me sixhours south of Merida to the Tankab Outfitters’ so-called ‘Brocket deer camp’. Buried deep in the heavily-forested region an hour past the last village, Nuevo Bécal, I would try my hand at hunting the diminutive Brocket deer. Of equal, if not greater, interest to me was the opportunity to pursue two of this region’s spectacular bird species, the Crested Guan and the Great Curassow. Both are turkey-sized, with beautiful plumage carried by males and females. Male Curassows will reach three feet in length and top the scales at 10.5 pounds. The Crested Guan is a slightly-built relative of Curassows, still reaching lengths of nearly 36 inches, but weighing about half that of their stockier cousin. Now, with my backside swinging 30-feet above the forest floor, Tigre and I waited for the appearance of foraging Curassow. Curassow feed by walking through the tropical understory, scraping with their large-clawed feet, consuming mostly Don't Look Down! fruits and seeds, but not turning down the occasional insect or even small mammal not quick enough to escape. Lowering their heads in the act of grabbing a recesses of leaves and branches. Without turning his head, he slid snack, males showcase the beautiful, lemon-yellow coloration extendhis body back behind the tree, simultaneously gesturing with his ing halfway down the beak, their head ornamentation completed hand for me to join him. As carefully as I could, I shuffled forward, by a ‘cere’ (fleshy protuberance at the base) and a crest of long, fortrying to avoid breaking sticks and kicking rocks, but nothing helped ward-curled, glossy blue-black feathers. We failed in this attempt with the crunching noise emanating from the contact of my boots at hunting the Curassow. In fact, unlike the Brocket species taken with the thick layer of dried leaves. within the first day-and-a-half, both trophy birds made us work, From our first day hunting together, Tigre proved himself adept with the Great Curassow becoming a Moby Dick-esque pursuit. in communicating with hand gestures, and simple Spanish, recognizing my limited vocabulary in his native tongue. So, as I moved HUNTING THE COJOLITE up, Tigre pointed his finger at a nearly-vertical angle indicating the Our hunt for the Crested Guan, or as my Mexican friends would birds’ location in a tree located some 20 feet away from our hiding say, Cojolite, was a bit simpler and easier than the Curassow, but place. He then whispered in my ear, “Hembra (female), Izquierda not by much. We worked hard to get close to these birds, but always (Left); Macho (male), Derecho (right)”. “O.K. that’s clear”, I thought. managed to spook them from their perches in the canopy. Unlike I just hoped they wouldn’t swap positions by the time I could make Curassows, Guans are tree-feeders, foraging on insects, fruits, and them out. I took Tigre’s place on the right-hand side of the tree’s young leaves as they hop their way across the upper reaches of the base, and keeping contact with the trunk slid around until I had a tropical forest. The Guan’s penchant for staying in the highest parts view into the upper reaches of the nearby treetops. I spotted two of 60-foot+ tall, heavily-leaved trees make them a difficult target black blobs positioned 3 feet apart, 60-feet+ up in a nearby tree. As for trophy hunters. Not only do the shotgun pellets have to retain I raised the shotgun to my shoulder, I thought, “I hope these aren’t enough energy over 20 yards or so to bring down a bird resembling spider monkeys in the middle of a chat, minding their own busia small glider, but they must penetrate their way through dense foliness.” Aiming at the right-hand blob, I pulled the trigger on the age to reach the Guan’s perch. 12-gauge, and as the barrel came down from the recoil, recognized Several days into our week-plus hunt found us once again sneakthe rapidly falling form of a male Crested Guan. ing down a jungle path towards what Tigre recognized as the loud, Tigre headed into the thick underbrush, unerringly weaving his squawking call of a feeding pair. For my part, I was glad of the birds’ way to the Guan. By the time I made it half-way, he was already noise, given that I sounded like a Cape Buffalo in a hurry as I shuffled returning with our trophy. With its deep-red wattle, crest of black through the leaf litter. More about this later. Holding his hand back feathers, white-bars and spots spread on a background of black feathin the universal ‘Stop, Gringo!’ gesture, Tigre, silently crept forward ers, dark-red legs and incredibly broad tail, the Crested Guan was to stand behind a huge buttress tree, its base some 30 feet in diamstunning. As I held the trophy in my arms, I noticed that the outside eter. As the raucous noise exploded again from somewhere in the claws on one side of each foot curved in the opposite direction to canopy in front of us, Tigre slowly leaned around the trunk of the the other three claws. In YouTube videos and photographs, Guans tree, craning his neck to look nearly straight up into the darkened can be seen using these recurved ‘fingernails’ to grip branches. This 28 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Above: Ithaca Shotgun Was a Bit worse for Wear, but Proved Itself as a Trophy Bird Firearm! Below: Tigre clears ground for the author
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 29
was just one more example of the wonderful adaptations we hunters get to observe up close. The 4-Wheeler ride back to camp over the rutted, pot-holed track took an hour. Riding behind Tigre, cradling the shotgun and a garbage bag full of Guan, with the forest hemming us in, I breathed a sigh of relief and joy. One of the focusses of my Yucatán hunt was ours. As we entered the short track into camp, Juan, the Camp Manager and Master Skinner, approached us. He smiled as Tigre called out “Cojolite!”; taking the bag, he gently extracted the large bird. Juan and Tigre posed for a photo, fanning the Guan’s tail feathers, displaying their black coloration and extreme breadth. Juan then headed into the skinning shed with the Guan, having prepared the work area while we hunted. I guess he had more confidence than I that we would arrive back in camp with a trophy. I watched as he carefully sliced around the bones of the wings, carefully missing the base of the feathers, thus avoiding loosened and lost plumage. Juan’s artistry, developed over years of painstaking training, resulted in a perfectly-preserved skin, with all the Guan’s feathers intact, and still attached. I asked Tigre for the afternoon off, to write and simply savor the successes so far on our hunt. Halfway through and two Brocket deer and a wonderful male Guan were in the salt. I wanted to sit and contemplate, and begin putting down in words what this meant to a passionate hunter and conservationist. I knew that the 100,000 acres
Author with the trophy Crested Guan
30 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
of tropical forest in which we were hunting held large populations of trophy Guan and Curassow (and deer), but only because the owners and guides of Tankab Outfitters provided year-round protection by paying the local community for the concession, thereby giving the animals more value as trophies, than as meat, feathers, bones, skin, or horns. This was the reason others and I had the chance to pursue dream animals, like the Guan and Curassow. Hunters remain the greatest force in and for conservation.
THAT’S WHY IT’S CALLED HUNTING: LABORING FOR A HOCOFAISÁN
The next day, at 4 am, found us heading away from camp, bouncing our way down the same rough track we followed the day before. Turning onto a side-trail after about 30 minutes, Tigre drove another 15 minutes before pulling into a shallow alcove in the forest edge. I leveraged myself off the broad back of the 4-wheeler, and as quietly as possible, pumped a BB-loaded shell into the chamber of the Ithaca. Tigre whispered in Spanish that we would stalk the trail listening for the various calls of roosting Great Curassow, especially the low register ‘humming’ or ‘booming’, mating call of the males. We headed out just as the sky began to lighten enough to see the silhouetted tree tops. Almost immediately, Tigre stopped me with his palm down and pushed back. Pointing at his ear, he smiled. I listened, and a faint but clear sound, like a bass guitar’s lower notes,
penetrated through my electronic ear plugs. With even more care, of the 100,000-acre concession. After nearly 1 and ½ hours, my I tried to place my boots into Tigre’s tracks. Only marginally sucguide finally pulled into a break in the forest edge. Also, like all cessful given the limited light, it wasn’t surprising that we were some other mornings, we would begin our day’s hunt by stalking slowly distance away from the roosting birds when my guide grimaced and down a path as daylight broke across the canopy. gestured that they had flown away. Though we stalked several more As we stepped from the motorized punishment machine, Tigre sets of Curassow, we returned empty-handed to camp. asked me to leave my headlamp off. I would use the residual moonThe program for the afternoon hunt differed from the morning. light and the faint glow from the rising sun to follow in his footsteps. We traveled further, turning onto another track, this one leading to As I walked in the near darkness, my mind wandered to the variety a waterhole where Curassow often visited for an afternoon drink. of venomous snakes I knew occurred in this region of Mexico, espeTigre explained that we would first stalk the waterhole on the offcially the common, aggressive, and very deadly Fer-de-lance. Locked chance birds were already there watering. We approached the pond into these encouraging thoughts, I almost stumbled over Tigre as by climbing a ridgeline and then side-hilling down to the water’s he froze in rapt attention. I could barely make out his form when edge. We found no Curassow, but did spook an eagle from its obserhe raised his hand to his ear, smiled and whispered, “Hocofaisán”. vation perch, and most impressively, watched as a 6-foot-something I asked “Hembra” o “Macho”? “Hembra” was his immediate reply. Spectacled Caiman floated like a prehistoric log on the far side. I He slowly stepped down the trail, stopping repeatedly lifting his wondered if the reptile – its size near the maximum for the species gaze to the treetops silhouetted against the lightening sky to the – attained its length and girth from meals of fish, supplemented by right of our path. Finally, even I could hear the group calls of the the occasional unwary Guan, Curassow, Peccary, Brocket deer etc. female Curassows. Heading away from the pond, we topped out on the ridgeline, but Tigre knew I wanted a male Curassow if possible, but I knew instead of turning onto the track, Tigre continued into the forest on that females were also legal game, and that they came in a myriad of the opposite side. Stopping 100-yards in, he removed his pack and plumage types, all beautiful. So, when he turned to me pointed and pulled out the hammocks we used when in the elevated Machans. asked “Solo Macho?” I replied “Hembra es muy bien.” That is when He quickly strung the hammocks between my guide showed his wisdom in the face of a trees so that he and I sat about two feet off client incapable of walking quietly through the ground. Tigre faced one way; I faced the the surrounding forest. Kneeling at the edge CONSERVATION other. Once settled, he gestured for me to of the leafy forest floor, Tigre scraped a circle THROUGH watch the area he could not see, and made large enough to accommodate my size 12 the unmistakable mime that Curassows fed boots. With hand gestures, he told me to HUNTING through this forest understory on their way to wait, stepped into the cleared patch, knelt, Speaker: Mike Arnold the pond. He pointed to the clear, scratched and cleared another circle a stride’s length September 7 at 6:00 pm areas, scattered throughout the glade, made further on. He stepped into the second circle The Petroleum Club of Houston by the long, powerful claws of our quarry. of cleared ground and waved me forward First 50 attendees will receive About one hour in to our wait Tigre slowly into the patch behind him. We slowly made a signed copy of Mike's new book! For more information and raised his hand and pointed into the depth of our way up the slope leading toward the registration link, please visit the forest and smiled. Even I heard the clear calling birds. Finally, Tigre reached into his WeHuntWeGive.org/upcoming-events scratching sounds as the birds foraged toward pocket and removed something resembling our stand. The noise grew until it was obvious a fat pen. Having used one for years in my that the Curassows stood just the other side lectures, I realized I was looking at a laser of a hedge of bushes to our right. That’s when a breeze flowed from pointer. Tigre gestured toward the tree immediately in front of us, left-to-right, and the sound of rapidly retreating feet reached our and I raised the shotgun to my shoulder. The laser pointer came ears. Tigre grimaced, pointed to his nose, extracted himself from alive, and that was when I finally saw the outline of the bird sitting his hammock-seat and started repacking his bag. I was somewhat on a branch 30-feet above where we stood. At the shot, I watched doubtful that the birds bolted because of our scent, but it was posin shocked disbelief as the obviously unhurt female Curassow took sible. The closely-related Blue-billed Curassow has the reputation of flight. Out of the corner of my eye, I registered that another bird of using its sense of smell in foraging for fruits and other food items. similar size flew from the tree vacated by the female into another tree So, maybe I should have used unscented soap! to our right. “Macho!” Tigre hissed, and resettled the laser pointer The remaining days of my hunt were a blur of 3:30am wakeup indicating a reprieve; his tone also suggested that I not waste any calls, long trips down torturous tracks on the 4-wheeler, to untime. Pumping the shotgun made a tremendous noise in the now searched areas of the surrounding tropical dry forest. Tigre and I quiet forest. I breathed deeply and held on the center of the massive made early morning and late afternoon stalks, sat in multiple, elbird. At the shot, the Macho Hocofaisán fell out of the air, striking evated Machans, and constructed more ground blinds from which the ground with a resounding thud. The smile of relief on Tigre’s face to watch. And, the bird I was beginning to think of us mythical conwas enormous. I suspect it matched my own. He pumped my hand tinued to elude us. It wasn’t that we never encountered their sounds, and pounded me on the back, yelling “Muy bien, muy, muy bien!!” but like before, my lack of dexterity in moving silently through the Later in camp, with photographs taken, I carefully stroked the crispy understory, and fidgetiness on stands likely accounted for feathers of the Macho Hocofaisán. I couldn’t help staring at the Great them leaving before we caught site of their turkey-sized outlines. Curassow’s beautiful, lemon-yellow cere and his glossy black crest, The last morning began like all the previous, with Tigre and I and his massive, nearly 12-pound body. It seems that few trophy heading into the blackness of the Campeche environs, me cradling hunters from North America pursue the Guan and Curassow. This my shotgun and doing my best imitation of a jack-in-the-box as I is a pity. In the years to come, the mounts of these two, stunning became airborne again-and-again as the 4-wheeler bounced across birds would help me to revisit the wonderland that is the Yucatán ruts and holes. This morning we traveled much further, to one edge Peninsula’s Dry Tropical Forest. ★ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 31
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The Fishmonger
Tommy Gomes, The Fishmonger
BY SCOTT LEYSATH
I’VE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT WHERE
our fish comes from during the past few years. My company, Sporting Chef Productions, co-produces a show on Outdoor Channel called The Fishmonger. A fishmonger is someone who knows almost everything about raw fish and seafood from how it’s caught to what to do with it in the kitchen. The show is hosted by Tommy Gomes, a fourth-generation commercial fisherman who has spent months at a time on the water chasing fish around the globe. His knowledge of all things fishy runs deep and it’s been an eye-opener, even for an old crabby chef like me who has spent most of his life teaching others how to prepare fish. Did you know that ninety percent of the seafood we consume in the U.S. is imported?
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 35
Depending on where you live, access to freshly caught fish isn’t always possible. If you live in a rural area, the local market might only carry a limited supply of frozen fish. As much as I enjoy freshly caught fish, there’s nothing wrong with frozen fish if it’s been handled properly. Quite often, frozen fish is the better option over “fresh” fish that can be ten days out of the water before you see it at the grocery store. Other thawed fish at the fish counter might have been previously frozen and thawed several days before you decide you want fish for dinner. If it was previously frozen, I’d prefer to thaw it myself and cook it as soon as possible. Whether your fish is store-bought or wildcaught, it’s best to package properly before freezing. Give it a rinse with cold water. There are those folks who contend that rinsing saltwater fish with freshwater will compromise the texture of the fish, but I haven’t that to be true. While on the water, bleed your fish and keep them on ice. Prior to cleaning, rinse with cold water and pat dry immediately. Once the fish is processed, wrap each part with two-ply paper towels to keep the fish dry before packaging. After thawing, re-wrap the fish with paper towels again until it’s time to start cooking. Dry fish will absorb the ingredients you have added to the skillet – wine, lemon, butter, herbs, etc. Whenever I serve fish, I always give it a drizzle of fresh-squeezed lemon or lime just before serving to make the flavors come alive. When buying whole fish at the market, note the clarity of the eyes. A clear eye tells you the fish is fresh. Cloudy eyes are a sign that the fish has been out of the water for several days. Note the color and condition of the gills. They should be reddish and healthy in appearance. Many fish markets remove the gills so that older gills don’t reveal the age of the fish. These recipes are a selection of some of my favorites from the latest season of The Fishmonger TV show. Note that they aren’t complicated, and the ingredients can be found in just about any market. I prefer the best quality seafood that hasn’t been buried in sauces and ingredients that make it taste less like fish. For those who are convinced that fish are “fishy,” meaning that they have an unpleasant aroma or taste, my guess is that you have had the unpleasant experience of sampling fish that has been mishandled. Fresh fish out of the ocean is reminiscent of the sea, not the landfill.
SAUTÉED SWORDFISH WITH BASIL AND LEMON
I wasn’t a big fan of swordfish before I paid attention to how swordfish were caught. I thought the fish was dry and didn’t really have much flavor. New methods of harvesting swordfish have made a big difference in how it behaves on the dinner plate. Much like the way stress can negatively impact the flavor of wild game, a swordfish that has been attached to a longline for a day or so won’t be as tender and moist as one that has been caught using “one hook-one line.” Deep-set buoy gear uses a flotation device and a single line with no more than three baited hooks attached. The hooks hang deeper in the water, away from sea turtles and other wildlife, while more selectively targeting deepfeeding swordfish. As soon as a swordfish strikes, the gear and swordfish are retrieved quickly. Another method that dispatches swordfish almost immediately is harpooning the fish are spotted 36 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
on the surface during the day and harpooned from a plank protruding from the front of the boat. They aim for the spine, which immobilizes the fish, and it’s in the boat in an hour or two. When you look at a chunk of swordfish, I’ve been told by several commercial fishermen that a fish with a more pronounced bloodline has been more stressed prior to landing. Less bloodline, less stress, better fish. I’m not sure that the size of the bloodline actually indicates whether the fish was more or less stressed, however, I’ve eaten several swordfish dishes with less bloodline and I’m a believer. 4 servings
• • • • • • • •
4 6- to 8-ounce swordfish fillets, bloodline removed salt and pepper 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, minced 4 green onions, chopped 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 tablespoons butter
1. Season fish with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add swordfish and sauté until lightly browned on one side. Flip over and add garlic, basil, green onions, and lemon juice. Cook for another minute or two or until the fish is just cooked. Transfer fish to plates and whisk 2 tablespoons butter into pan. Spoon pan sauce over fish.
SAUTÉED SHRIMP WITH BACON
Most of the shrimp consumed in the U.S. is imported from Asia and Central America. The better option is to buy or harvest shrimp from American coastal waters. Wild-caught shrimp are fattier, and more flavorful, and buying shrimp from American shrimpers helps both the shrimpers and the U.S. economy. As I travel around the country, one of the things I carry back home with me is shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast. Shrimp let you know when they are done. As soon as they turn pink, I remove them from the skillet. Nothing bad will happen if you eat a shrimp that is undercooked, but overcooked shrimp
Above: Sauteed Swordfish With Basil And Lemon Below: Sautéed Shrimp with Bacon
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are rubbery. If you happen to remove shrimp from the pan a tad too early, you can always cook it some more, but you cannot uncook it. 4 servings
• 24 to 32 large shrimp, about 1 1/2 pounds, peeled and deveined • salt and pepper • 2 strips bacon, chopped • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced • 1 serrano chiles, thinly sliced • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice • tortilla strips 1. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Heat bacon in a medium skillet until cooked. Add shrimp, garlic, serrano chiles, and thyme. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in lime juice, transfer shrimp to plates, and top with tortilla strips.
Above: Sauteed Swordfish With Basil And Lemon Below: Sautéed Shrimp with Bacon
MAHI-MAHI TACOS
On the West Coast, they’re called dorado. South easterners often referred to them as “dolphin,” a shortened form of one of their other names, dolphinfish. The first time I heard someone say they were going to cook dolphin, I had to make sure that they weren’t referring to Flipper. And for those people who don’t know who Flipper is, well, it probably doesn’t matter but I grew up with a TV fish named Flipper who was especially good at communicating with humans. The concept might have been a stretch, but we also had a supersmart dog named Lassie and Mr. Ed, a talking horse. Fish tacos have become a huge thing in the U.S. The type of fish used to make them isn’t too critical if you plan on adding salsa, cheese, and other toppings. I prefer to keep it simple and use better fish that has been grilled or pan-seared rather than breaded and fried. There are several directions you can take a fish taco. Note that the recipe below is very basic. Feel free to add avocado, cheese, hot sauce, onions, peppers, and anything else that makes your taco your own. 4 servings, 8 tacos
• • • • • • •
1 to 1 1/2 pounds mahi-mahi fillet, bloodline removed any taco seasoning 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil any taco seasoning tomato salsa 1 lime, cut into quarters 8 corn or flour tortillas
1. Season fish with taco seasoning. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish to the skillet and cook fish on all sides, about 2 to 3 minutes total. Stir in salsa and spoon fish onto tortillas. Serve with lime.
SAUTÉED BLACK COD
Black cod, also known as sablefish, is fattier and creamier than the “regular” cod you see in the grocery store. Black cod is high in omega-3 fatty acids, even higher than salmon. The high-fat 38 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
content gives them a rich flavor and velvety texture, making sablefish perfect for smoking. Black Cod can be hard to find in the U.S. because most of it is shipped directly to Japan. However, there is a growing awareness and appreciation for Black Cod in the states. If you see it at the fish counter and it looks well-kept, seize the opportunity, and cook it right away. 4 servings
• • • • • • • •
4 6-ounce black cod fillets pinch or two sea salt pinch or two smoked paprika (or any paprika) pinch or two white pepper 1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil 1 cup carrots, peeled and diced 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced 1/4 cup orange juice
1. Season fish with sea salt, smoked paprika, and white pepper.
Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish and lightly brown on one side. Flip over and add carrots, garlic, and orange juice. Transfer fish to plates and spoon pan sauce over.
GRILLED GROUPER COLLAR
Fish have collars. The bigger the fish, the bigger the collars. Most fish collars are discarded with the bones, skin, and guts. I highly recommend saving the collars from larger fish like grouper, tuna, and salmon. Look for the bony triangle of tender, fatty flesh that lies between the gills and the rest of the body. Seasoned and grilled or broiled, collars are a delicacy. Try it once and you likely won’t throw them away ever again. I’ve tried collars from several species and they’ve all been fantastic. I wish I could get back all the collars I’ve thrown away in the past. You don’t want to rush cooking a fish collar. Take it slow so that the moist meat close to the bone has a chance to cook before the exterior gets overcooked. Prior to cooking, dowse with a little soy sauce, some freshly ground black pepper, and a sprinkling of sea salt. For an averagesized salmon collar, it will take about 15 to 20 minutes over a medium heat grill to cook. There is no limit to the size of fish collar for the grill. Large tuna collars can take 30 to 4 minutes to fully cook. Once cooked, collars are served whole and diners use fingers or utensils to remove the meat.
Above: Grilled Grouper Collar Below: Smoked Salmon Sushi Pizza
SMOKED SALMON SUSHI PIZZA
Mary Goddard authors a website, ForestFreshAlaska. The Fishmonger show featured Mary on a trip to Sitka, Alaska where she lives with her family. The Goddards are all about making the most of local ingredients which, of course, includes salmon. They forage fish, hunt, and make just about everything from scratch. When Mary told me that she was going to make Sushi Pizza for the show, I wasn’t too excited about it until I tried it. And for those who have tried, and possibly failed, at making sushi rolls, this is easier, takes less time, and is delicious. 6 to 8 appetizer servings
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
2 cups sushi rice 3 cups water 5 Tbsp rice vinegar 3 Tbsp sugar 2 tbsp salt 2 Tbsp sesame oil 8-12 oz. smoked salmon, broken up with a fork 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature one avocado, thinly sliced one cucumber, thinly sliced ½ cup chives, chopped 1 tsp black sesame seeds prepared wasabi
1. Strain the rice in a strainer, rinsing with running water and funneling through your fingers until the water runs clear. If time allows, drain for an hour. Place the rinsed rice into a mediumsized pot. Cover with 3 cups of water and bring to boil over high heat. Place the lid on top and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to sit for ten minutes.
2. Place vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan and heat lightly to dissolve the sugar. Once the rice has rested for 10 minutes, toss it well with the vinegar mixture. 3. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment or wax paper. Spread rice on the pan to cool. When rice feels set, form into a rectangle, about 1 to 3/4-inch thick. Brush sesame oil evenly over the top of the rice. Place under a broiler on the lower rack for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from broiler and allow to cool completely. 4. Mix cream cheese up with a fork to make it more spreadable. Spread evenly over rice. Top with avocado, salmon, cucumber, chives, and black sesame seeds. Cut into squares or triangles and serve with wasabi. ★ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 39
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Ops call center
SAVING LIVES Global Rescue Medical Advisory Services Contributed by www.globalrescue.com/hscf
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Fishing Manzanillo Park in Costa Rica
YOU OWN TWO CHARTER FISHING OPERATIONS in Costa Rica and you are not sure if you are having blood sugar issues or a heart attack. Should you call Global Rescue? Yes. “Call us whenever you have a medical question during your travels. Ask immediately before the situation or the symptoms get worse,” said Garret Dejong, senior specialist in medical operations at Global Rescue.
24/7/365 MEDICAL ADVISORY SERVICE
It’s why Global Rescue’s medical advisory services are available to members 24/7/365. Sometimes you have a question about a symptom, like a bite or a rash. “Our team of medical professionals includes experienced paramedics, nurses, and doctors. We handle calls for cuts and stomach upsets to more severe illnesses and injuries, like chest pains and serious trauma,” said Michael Lovely, operations supervisor at Global Rescue. Or sometimes you need to find a clinic in your area. It could be a COVID testing facility needed before a flight or a health care provider who can evaluate an injury to determine if it is sprained or broken. Global Rescue will direct you to the best local medical resources around the world, so you are not left guessing about how to best address your health concern. And sometimes that phone call can save your life, which is what Captain Scott Kozak learned when he started having symptoms— rapid heart rate, sweating, disorientation, and weakness—while in Quepos, Costa Rica. “Those of us who live, work, play and travel internationally may wonder what would happen if you were injured or had a medical emergency in a third-world country. Now I have first-hand experience,” said Kozak, owner and operator of Pacific Fly Sportfishing at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos.
GLOBAL RESCUE IS THE FIRST CALL
With his heart clocking 252 beats per minute, Kozak was taken to a local clinic in Quepos. “We called Global Rescue immediately, and I was advised to go to Hospital CIMA in San Jose, Costa Rica,” Kozak said. Hospital CIMA, built in 2000, is a full-service, acute-care hospital with a Cardiovascular Surgery Center of Excellence. “Global Rescue has a list of criteria for vetting a hospital’s capabilities to be considered a Center of Excellence,” said Jeff Weinstein, medical operations supervisor at Global Rescue. “We have detailed conversations with leadership. We visit a hospital, with a translator if needed, to make sure the facility aligns with a U.S. Level 1 hospital—24-hour ED, trauma and surgical services—and Joint Commission International ( JCI) accreditation. We want to get you to the right hospital, not the closest.” Despite Global Rescue’s advice, Kozak went to a smaller hospital in Quepos. The hospital determined Kozak did not have a heart attack or suffer any major damage, so when he was released
several hours later, he rested for a day and, based on advice from his cardiologist in the United States, went to the airport. “While waiting at the gate to board the plane, I experienced a severe attack requiring immediate attention from airport paramedics. I was evaluated and immediately transferred to Hospital CIMA,” Kozak said.
GLAD TO HAVE GLOBAL RESCUE
Global Rescue’s medical advisory services came in handy once again. “Global Rescue provided us with all information we needed in real time, including where to transport me for the best possible care in Costa Rica, setting up a hotel room for my wife across the street from the hospital, and checking on my condition two to three times per day,” Kozak said. Kozak needed angioplasty surgery, then a second surgery to implant a pacemaker/defibrillator. “I was in the hospital for eight days (seven days in coronary ICU) for two surgeries, plus a couple more days of recovery. The level of care I received in Costa Rica was incredible. Now I feel 30 years younger. I will get a good month of rest and begin cardio rehab when I return to the states.” One thing Kozak wishes he did differently? “I should have listened to Global Rescue from the beginning,” he said. “Although we called Global Rescue immediately after my first attack, I tried to make it to the states against Global Rescue’s advice.” The experience did underline the importance of a Global Rescue membership and the 24/7/365 medical advisory services. “I have consulted Global Rescue about a couple of minor injuries, but I never thought I would use it in this capacity,” Kozak said. “I tell others if you have health issues or travel regularly, it’s a great idea to have a Global Rescue membership. It may save your life someday. It did for me.”
A LIFE-SAVING TRAVEL PROTECTION MEMBERSHIP
It is difficult to manage your own health care while you are having an emergency. That’s why Global Rescue members appreciate our round-the-clock medical advisory services. Our medical experts will evaluate symptoms and recommend the best health care facility, then our medical evacuation services will get you there. We’ll also work in conjunction with your family, the local health care providers, and your primary care doctors at home, so everyone is on the same page. Houston Safari Club highly recommends purchasing a Global Rescue membership prior to your next trip. Single trip, annual and family options are available. For more information, visit info.globalrescue.com/hscf or call (617) 459-4200 and mention you’re a Houston Safari Club Foundation member. ★ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 43
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Esplanade Travel
“Create Your Own Memories” BY JACKY KEITH, PRESIDENT JKEITH@ESPLANADETRAVEL.COM
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CREDIT: RICK POTASH
Left: Victoria Falls | Above: Teenage male lions watching lioness hunt
M
s. Karen Blixen (a.k.a. Isak Dinesen), author of the novel “Out Of Africa” said, “There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne-bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive.” I used to come home from my trips to Africa and tell Jill Potash, the Director of our Africa Department, about all the extraordinary sightings, wonderful people we met, and exciting adventures we had. I also showed her the many pictures we captured.
However, I explained that no matter how many stories I told her or photos she saw, they would mean nothing until she saw Africa for herself. So, we arranged for her first trip to Southern Africa. I will let Jill describe her first African experience. Jacky felt I had to see as much as I could on this first trip and did I ever. I actually took fourteen flights in seventeen days. A number of the flights were in four-seater bush planes flying low over the bushveld. The journey started with the long flight to Johannesburg. Although the flight was long, when we landed I remember saying “I am on the African continent, I am on the African continent!” From
Johannesburg, I took a short flight to Hoedsprit and was met by a ranger from Jackelberry Lodge in the Thornybush Game Reserve. Driving to the lodge in an open vehicle, meaning no doors, windows, or roof, I realized I was now in the South African bush. I arrived at Jackelberry in time for lunch. They set up a table for me on the lawn and I was enjoying the surroundings when, all of a sudden, I was joined by a huge male warthog with large tusks. It was a little unnerving until the ranger told me that the warthog was there every day and would not bother anyone. The warthog and I enjoyed lunch together. Afternoon game drives usually begin around 3:30 SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 47
Above: Xigera Safari Camp
pm. My first game drive was exhilarating. We saw many impala, be safely away from them. Then, the ranger started the vehicle wildebeest, giraffe, and zebra. It was getting dark so we started and slowly drove right next to the lions, a yard or two. The lioness to head back to the lodge for dinner. While driving, the ranger had clearly just eaten as her belly was huge and she was not movheard the impala sending out warning signals that a predator was ing for anything. The four teenagers surrounded the vehicle and near. Our ranger went off-road and crashed through the bush. were curious. The ranger assured me there was no danger and that The tracker, who sits in a chair mounted on the hood spotted they were just being playful. I was thinking that this was beyond the predator. It was now completely dark and sitting in front of anything I could have ever imagined and how right Jacky was. I the vehicle was a magnificent male cheetah. I couldn’t believe had to see this for myself to appreciate all the pictures and stories. how incredible this was in the dark of night. Then, in a flash, the It was a memorable twenty-four hours at Jackelberry Lodge. cheetah ran further into the bush. The ranger After the morning game drive, I was met at said we would follow to see if the cheetah had the lodge by Francois. Francois, who spent “The lioness had made a kill. We again found the cheetah and more than thirty years in the bush, would laying in front of him was an impala. We left, be my guide Through Kruger National Park. clearly just eaten as so the cheetah could feed before bigger cats Jacky wanted me to see Kruger so I would her belly was huge or hyenas came to steal his food. know the difference between the public park On our way back to the road the ranger inand the private game reserves. Kruger is 220 and she was not formed me that we had a flat tire. We are in miles north to south and 40 miles east to west moving for anything. the middle of the bush, completely dark and with a total of 7,576 square miles. Francois with no ambient light. The ranger let me know took me almost the entire length of the park. The four teenagers that he had no intention of getting out of the Each night we stopped at different lodges surrounded the vehicle along the way. What was most notable was vehicle to change the tire and we would drive to the lodge on the flat. What a memorable that at night, humans became the ones in and were curious.” first-game drive. cages as each lodge closed their gates to ensure The morning game drives start early, about the safety of the guests. Kruger is a self-drive 6:00 am. The ranger said we were going to go back and try to find park and you are not allowed to go off-road for a sighting. where the cheetah had made the kill. I asked how could he find At the time, fences along the western border of Kruger sepait as it was so dark? He said he was pretty sure where it was and rated the park from the private reserves. The animals could not in a short time he found the spot. All that was left were bones. venture beyond the fences to the private reserves. However, in The ranger got a call on the radio that lions had been spot2002 the fences were taken down, and the animals are now free ted. He drove to the area and stopped. In front of us, maybe fifty to roam where they please. yards away were five lions, a large lioness was laying on a termite It was an eventful three days in Kruger and I am glad I had mound, and four sub-adults, teenagers, below her on the ground. the experience. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to see five lions and From Kruger, I flew to Cape Town. I had a marvelous stay 48 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Above, Below: Okavango Delta
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CREDIT: RICK POTASH
Above: Elies playing in the Zambezi River | Below: Panoramic of Cape Town
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CREDIT: RICK POTASH
at the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. At dinner, I was offered Mozambique Tiger Prawns. These prawns average in size between 7-9 inches. They are huge! Dinner was sumptuous. I was awakened the next morning by the barking of the seals laying along the boardwalk. Cape Town is a must-see city. From Cape Town, I flew to Zambia for a night at the River Club Lodge. The River Club is located on the Zambezi River. There had been a lot of rain in Zambia and many roads were flooded. I was taken to the lodge by boat which was wonderful. That evening I took a sundowner cruise on the Mighty Zambezi. I saw elephants play fighting on the bank and crocodiles cruising around. The sunset on the Zambezi was the most spectacular I have ever seen. In the morning, my guide took me to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. The tour of the Falls is a must for a traveler in that part of Jill with new friend on game drive Africa. Victoria Falls, also called “The Smoke That Thunders” is so powerful and impressive. I was given a poncho and umbrella and I still got hit by the spray. There were many more wonderful experiences on that first trip, From the tour of the Falls, I went to an open-air craft market. like flying from Cape Town to Zimbabwe with the Zimbabwe Everything there was handmade. If you go to the market you National Rugby Team. That was perhaps the most fun I have ever might want to take some old t-shirts or other items as the people had on a flight. It is also important to point out how extraordithere like to barter for their wares. One man wanted to trade for nary all the people were at each camp. They were kind, attentive, my sneakers. I still have the beautiful wooden salad bowl I bought. and always ready to do more for me if I asked. Whether it was Next on my itinerary was Botswana. Botswana is known to have South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, or Zimbabwe, the people were the largest population of elephants anywhere. I was going to stay glad you were there. at the Chobe Lodge on the Chobe River. As my guide neared the I have taken many trips to South Africa since that first one. stone entrance to the lodge, as if right on cue, we were met by a Each trip into the bush is exciting because I always see things I very large bull elephant kicking sand at us. The guide said the bull have never seen before. The South African bush is my passion. often does that when he is around the lodge as if to say welcome. There is nothing like being in that open vehicle early in the Our afternoon game drive consisted of a trip down the Chobe morning and inhaling the crisp clean air and wondering what River. Right before sunset, we stopped to watch a crocodile and incredible sightings await that morning. python engaging in either playful back and forth around and under Upon my return home, I told Jacky how right she was and the boat, or the crocodile was actually trying to catch the python. proceeded to share my stories and photos with her. I agree with Eventually, they both had enough and swam away. There were also Ms. Blixen that safari life makes you bubble over with gratitude a number of elephant herds along the banks of the Chobe River. for being alive and in that magical place called the bush. Once again, the African sunset was breathtaking. Because Jill took that first trip and many more, when a client I left the Chobe River and Chobe Lodge and traveled to the calls asking about flights, safari camps, transfers, and what to Xigera safari camp in the famous Ocavango Delta. The Delta is expect once there, she can advise them because she has done it. made up of hundreds of islands. Xigera is located on the westClients sense the enthusiasm as she tells them of all the wonders ern side of the Moremi Game Reserve. At Xigera you can have they will experience. a game drive on land in the Moremi Reserve or a water game Isn’t it time to create your own memories? drive in a mokoro, a thin dug-out canoe. • • • Upon my arrival, I was told that due to the heavy rains and flooding, a land drive was impossible. My reaction at first was Our staff has collectively traveled over 150 countries around the disappointment, but once I was in the mokoro and on the water, it world, and we sell destinations we know best and love the most! was thrilling. My guide paddled me through numerous waterways Our primary destinations are Africa, New Zealand, Australia, pointing out the beautiful flora and fauna. I observed crocodiles Southeast Asia, Italy, France, Croatia, South America, the United and hippos all around me. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Arab Emirates, and the islands of the South Pacific. ★ That evening dinner was in the boma, an open-air dining area with a large fire pit in the middle. I asked why there was a bridge connecting Xigera to one of the other islands? The bridge was covered with sand. I learned that each morning they could tell what ESPLANADE TRAVEL animals were crossing back and forth. At that very moment, one 800-628-4893 | esplanadetravel.com of those animals was making its way across the bridge to Xigera. info@esplanadetravel.com A hyena came across, looked at us, and went on her merry way. Talk about a dinner guest! Instagram: @esplanadetravel
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Andy Buc:frlaraara Africa born TIA FIVE founder Andy Buchanan is here to help you find the perfect hunting destination regar:dless of your: price point. "frlA FIVE produces the hit TV show "This is Africa" which aims at promoting the prosperity of Africa's wildlife through conservation Hunting. proudly sponsored by the Houston Safari Club Foundation.
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Contact us: Email: andy@ltiafive.com lnstagram: tiafive this is Africa five VouTube: this is Africa
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 53
BOARDMEMBERSPOTLIGHT MEM
BE
Get To Know Me!
R
5 Minutes With HSCF Board Member Jeff Garrett
1.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF HSCF? Not sure, for a number of years.
2.
6.
WHAT IS THE ONE ITEM YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE SHIPWRECKED ON AN ISLAND?
I am passionate about hunting. I am particularly interested/ concerned about hunter’s rights and protecting the hunting heritage. I want to support HSCF’s missions to recruit, retain and re-activate hunters and the continuing education of the public. Basically, anything I can do to help protect the hunting heritage as much as possible.
My iPad downloaded with books, music, podcasts and movies (and a solar powered charger).
8.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST CHALLENGING HUNTING EXPERIENCE?
3.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH AS A BOARD MEMBER?
4.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING AN HSCF MEMBER?
Networking with like-minded members of the hunting community, weekly podcasts and monthly meetings with guest speakers. These feed into my “I am either hunting, thinking about it, or reading/learning about it constantly.”
5.
WHAT IS/WAS YOUR CAREER FIELD? Corporate legal counsel.
54 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Rifle and shotgun.
7.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE HSCF OR HSC BOARD?
I plan to be active at every opportunity possible. I would like to strengthen the organization by increased advocacy, membership, education, brand recognition and other resources to help HSCF continue its important missions.
PREFERRED HUNTING WEAPONRIFLE, SHOTGUN OR BOW?
Mountain goat hunt in southeast Alaska last year. Long, vertical and slippery climbing every day. Lots of alders and devil’s club. Successful on day 4.
9.
OF ALL THE SPECIES YOU HAVE HUNTED, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY? West Texas Mule deer and New Mexico pronghorn. I have been lucky enough to be on some big ranches and really enjoy the big open country where you ride and glass many miles a day.
10.
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE 18-YEAROLD VERSION OF YOURSELF?
Try to manage stress better and worry less. Always be kind to others and stay humble.
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 55
Robert M. Lee
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HSCFPHSPOTLIGHT
Meet Alex McDonald of McDonald Safaris & Co.
1.
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY AREA AND GAME FOR WHICH YOU GUIDE?
McDonald Safaris prides itself in having acquired some of the finest areas in Mozambique and South Africa, which provides our guests the opportunity to a unique and above-average hunting experience. Although we focus on dangerous game, plains game, and wing shooting - buffalo hunting seems to be the order of the day for most of our hunters. Be it a dedicated buffalo hunt, an addition to a leopard hunt, or an upgrade from a plains game hunt, my PH’s and I average between 30-50 buffalo hunts each season across our various concessions.
2.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL HUNTER?
McDonald Safaris is a third-generation safari company, established by my late grandparents in 1953. Growing up with my father running the company with the other senior PH’s around naturally sparked my interest and desire to join them when I grew up. It’s a family business and I have a passion for conservation. What better way to be involved in effective conservation than being a hunting guide and custodian of the areas we hunt in.
3.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST DANGEROUS HUNT?
It is not easy to point out my most dangerous hunt as PH’s generally deal with dangerous situations on a daily basis with so many variables. I’ve had Lions stick their nose in our blinds, a hunter accidentally discharging his rifle past us, black mambas whipping through the middle of the hunting party, elephant herds cornering us in steep valleys, and wounded buffalo in the thickest cover. One event which frequents my memory was a follow-up on a wounded leopard which could have resulted in a visit to the hospital had it not been for my dog which got between me and the leopard at close range. After 45 minutes of the dog baying the leopard up in a large thicket, the cat turned its focus on us again with a full-on charge, stopped at our feet by a .458 lott and shotgun slug.
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4.
WHAT DO YOU WANT A FIRSTTIME CLIENT TO KNOW BEFORE HUNTING WITH YOU?
5.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING HUNTING AND HUNTERS TODAY?
6.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HUNTING WEAPON AND/OR CALIBER?
A first-time client hunting with us should know that we do not sell “cheap” hunts in small areas and we do not chase inches. We focus on providing our guests with a fair chase hunting experience, in quality destinations complemented by quality service. Although we are frequently lucky enough to hunt some large trophies, it is an attribute to our game management protocols and ethos in hunting old males past their breeding prime.
The biggest challenge facing the hunting community today are all forms of media, managed or manipulated by anti-hunting lobbyists and reaching large audiences, which can be manipulated to trigger negative emotions and paint a false perception about what we do, to the rest of society. Yes, we as a community do convey the truth about the socio, economic, and conservation benefits of our sustainable utilization practices, often backed by scientific facts. Other than the commendable advocacy by many of our organizations in political arenas, our facts and messages tend to reach our own community for the most part. We could and should be doing more to reach larger audiences, not necessarily the anti-hunting community, but rather the non-hunting community, those who don’t necessarily have an opinion or who have not had the privilege of experiencing the outdoors as we all have.
As a PH, I am partial to the .146 Rigby, the .450 Rigby, and the .458 Lott due to their proven performance in the field time and again. My .458 Lott was one of, if not, the first one ever built by Jack Lott and my grandfather, handed down to my father, then to me. For a client weapon, unless we target specialized game, I almost always recommend the versatile .375HH, which is comfortably suitable to hunt anything from a Steenbuck right up to a big old Elephant bull.
7.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT HUNTING?
Guiding the hunts is the exciting part of what we do, but the job is not done once the season is complete. As custodians of the areas we hunt in, we have the responsibility of continuing our anti-poaching, management, and community benefaction efforts. Outside all that, anything to do with aviation, traveling, and exploring keeps me ticking.
8.
FAVORITE MEAL?
Besides the lean game meat from camp and my momma’s home-cooked meals, my favorite meal would have to be a fresh seafood platter at one of the little restaurants on Mozambique’s pristine coastline.
9.
WHY DO YOU HUNT?
Why do I hunt? There are so many answers to that question and not one answer is more valid than the next. My family passed the tradition down to me and my siblings, and for that, I am extremely thankful. So long as you and I pass the tradition on to the next generation,
they will understand why and they will continue looking after our precious wilderness areas and everything that lives within.
10.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU COULD NOT DO YOUR JOB WITHOUT?
Responsibly, protecting our areas and fauna, flora, and community within is a huge part of what we do, and could not do my job without it. As a professional guide though, I have had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with clients from all walks of life, from the folks who have saved up their whole life for a trip to Africa, to sports stars, successful businessmen, and even royalty. Not being able to meet new and interesting people all the time may not make my job as fun as it is.
Alex McDonald MCDONALD SAFARIS & CO.
www.mcdonaldsafaris.com
safaris@mcdonaldhunt.com
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GIVING CREDIT Where Credit is Due BY NEAL EMERY
If it weren’t for one specific innovation, most new products of the last few decades would not exist.
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Gunwerks led the hunting industry with the first laser rangefinder with a ballistic engine embedded in 2011.
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Above: The BR4 is programmed by mobile app via Bluetooth.
CREDIT: SIERRA LANGBELL
Below: Shot of the BR4 in field.
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W
HAT INNOVATION IN THE LAST 25 YEARS HAS CHANGED RIFLE HUNTERS’ SUCCESS IN THE FIELD THE MOST? For the sake of the argument, let’s rule out the close-range deep woods or tree stand-style hunters who are generally unaffected by distance, wind speed, optics, or cartridge selection within reason. Let’s assume western hunting as our example which can easily include the fringes of a bean field, endless prairie of grass or sagebrush, mountainous terrain, or wide-open miles of tundra. Innovation in the hunting world is a constant process. There’s always a new bullet, cartridge, camo pattern, rifle, bow, or accessory to help your success in the field. The innovation in sports optics like rifle scopes, binoculars, and spotting scopes has grown wildly in the past century as well. New improvements in optics can still help seek out a few more minutes of usable light in the field, or, help shooters add some more distance to their hit capability. Occasionally, something comes along that is truly innovative. Quite a few new products have come to fruition in the last quarter-century - have any of them been game-changers? A slew of new cartridges have been developed from the Ultra Mags to Short Mags to the extremely popular 6.5 Creedmoor and the newest designs from Nosler, Weatherby, and the Hornady Precision Rifle Cartridges (PRC’s). New bullet designs have been successful, especially in the match and long-range crowd plus more non-lead projectile options have been developed somewhat out of necessity. While they’ve all added something their overall success in the field is predicated by one other innovation that became increasingly popular in the early 2000s - the laser rangefinder. Think about it, would the Creedmoor and PRC cartridges have been developed or be the success they are if we still had to estimate target distances by gosh or by golly? Would the need to develop new bullet and ammo lines like Terminal Ascent and Precision Hunter be around today if we were limited to some form of “just hold a bit over its back” or estimating the target is within a known point blank range? Would modern optics have excelled in new turret designs and reticles if we were still “milling” a target to estimate range? Would hunters and competitors argue over using MOA or MILS so much if the vast majority of long-distance shooting was still done on known distance ranges? We wouldn’t need bullets that expand at lower velocity thresholds if hunters didn’t have the ability to humanely and accurately hit targets at distances made possible because of accurate ranging. Optic companies wouldn’t have all upped their game in recent years with accurate dialing external turrets or precise reticles as opposed to previous options with reticle designs that were neither MOA or MILS but some estimation of a 308 Winchester class cartridge with 150-grain bullet type estimation that kinda/ sorta matched up with the vertical holdover lines. Thank goodness we’ve (mostly) moved past that. If fast, easy and reasonably priced laser range finding devices were not available today, we’d likely all still be in our “magnumitis” phase with large belted-magnum cased cartridges of Winchester or Weatherby or using the behemoths like the Ultra Mag or Lazeronni options, with lighter weight bullets that if sighted in at 300 yards can still connect past 400 yards with no more than an 8-inch holdover. This type of system is still being used today but just hope the wind isn’t blowing hard! Take a 300 Remington Ultra Mag with a 150-grain bullet at 3,500 fps and a 10-mile-perhour wind. While the drop is only 8 inches at 400 yards (using that 300-yard sight-in distance) wind deflection will be 12 inches
Above: The revolutionary G7 ballistic rangefinder Below: The new Revic BR4
off. A 15-mile-per-hour wind will require a 20-inch correction. If your range estimation was off and the target was closer to 500 yards away, your bullet drop went from 8 to 20+ inches and wind blew the bullet an additional foot to the side. Can a hunter be proficient with this method? You bet - but you really need to know your limitations when it comes to wind and avoiding going past the known distance of your point-blank range. Accurate range finding takes you from estimation to actuality. Once we know an exact distance to a target, much of the work can be done in seconds. Bullet drop is surprisingly simple to predict with accuracy in most conditions. It gets more difficult when dealing with steep angles, major changes in air pressure, or strong side winds that still affect the vertical drop which is known as aerodynamic jump. With modern ballistic solvers, you can still quickly deal with those extra challenges whether using a website, mobile app, wind meter that runs a ballistic engine, or even ballistics programs embedded in laser rangefinders themselves. The challenge remaining is oftentimes reading the wind. Wind flags are helpful on the range but not found in the field. New technology is making strong headway on that front as well. It’s easy to measure wind at the location of the shooter, however estimating what the wind is doing down range is a tougher task. With time and practice, a shooter can get proficient at estimating downrange wind by looking at the conditions including how the wind affects grass, leaves and especially reading mirage. New, cutting-edge technology using scintillation or LiDAR Radar are SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 65
The BR4 features a flip-down cover so it remains protected in the field.
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just showing up in the hunting/shooting world allowing shooters to account for multiple wind speeds and angles between the rifle and the target. That new technology will eventually become easily available and affordable over time, but it’s not going to happen overnight. Over the past quarter-century, laser rangefinders have made vast improvements in useable distance, optical quality, battery life, and enhanced features. Most current rangefinders will accurately range distances far further than people are capable of shooting. A quick look at the retail space shows more rangefinders that are capable of over a mile than there are range finders that max out under 1,000 yards. The overall distance a rangefinder will return a range is almost immaterial since it is well past the capacity a shooter can utilize for all but the best ELR competitors out there. The separating factor remains: how well will the rangefinder return a valid range on the animal they are hunting within terrain that may involve brush, trees, and/or items in the foreground or items in the background? This ability is what truly separates the wheat from the chaff. Inability to get a reading on fur, or consistently getting distances 150 yards behind the target on a background hillside are problems that can’t be For long distance precise measurements, the BR4 also attaches to support devices. overcome by having the latest and greatest rifle, cartridge, or bullet. One of Gunwerks early innovations in this field was the G7 the field. Remember, if you can’t accurately range the animal line of rangefinders that featured a built-in ballistic engine back you’re hunting, the rangefinder is not helping at all. A decade in 2011. This revolutionary device allowed hunters to range the and a half of field experience went into choosing the right shape distance to a target and get real-time shooting solution results of beam divergence which is flat and rectangular, rather than while looking through the screen in MOA, MILS, or BDC (Bullet circular to more easily allow hunters to scan down on an animal Drop Compensation). The BDC option was extremely valuable in the field and not catch the foreground and get a misleading for people using rifle scope turrets etched in yards that matched distance. There are also Nearest Mode and Farthest Mode to help the trajectory of their actual cartridge. For example, if the turret in certain situations. was etched for the cartridge at sea level and 60 degrees, the G7 Also in Long Range Mode, the rangefinder takes time to collect ballistic rangefinder would make the correction based on actual more data points to help identify the target and perform better field conditions and give a “dial to range” output that took into at longer distances. What also saves time is the location of the account the actual environmental factors at the time of ranging. thermistor to quickly read the air temperature, especially when Gunwerks launched its newest ballistic rangefinder recently, the getting out of a warm vehicle on a cold day or from being kept Revic BR4. The new BR4 Ballistic Rangefinder is the culmination inside a coat to suddenly being brought out for use in a much of 15 years of ballistic rangefinding expertise and technological different environment. advancement. The BR4 will range up to 4,000 yards and provide Think about bucks or bulls during pre-rut that tend to keep a shooting solution to its maximum range, unlike its predecesmoving and chasing. Or pronghorn that continue to mill around sors. It features the new Revic solver with advanced wind and rarely standstill. Once that animal you’re after finally stops to offer earth-based effects to provide accurate, ultra-fast corrections in a shot, can you range the distance, put it in your mobile ballistic MOA, MILS, or Shoot-To-Range for use with BDC turrets. It app, get the results, then dial and shoot? With a ballistic rangecan be programmed via a connected Bluetooth device, and with finder, as soon as it stops you can range the distance and get a Over The Air Update protocols, it has access to the latest softshoot-to immediately which is much faster in the field. ware improvements. It works with a corresponding free mobile While rangefinders themselves seem common and somewhat app called Revic Ops where the user can set up rifle profiles and old news by today’s standards. Think about the impact they’ve then “push” up to 10 of them to the BR4 for use in the field. had on hunting and shooting in recent years. They made so many Once profiles are moved to the rangefinder, you can use them other improvements possible and necessary. If you’re shooting a in the field without a wireless connection or further use of the rifle system capable of precise hits at a variety of distances and app, which is excellent for backcountry hunts. At 10 ounces it is are still using a simple laser rangefinder and calculating your light enough to pack anywhere and with 10x magnification, it is ballistics on a different device, perhaps it’s time to consider an easy to pick out and range game. It also allows the user to input all-in-one solution? ★ wind speed and vector angle to quickly get windage corrections. What really makes the BR4 stand out is the time savings in More info on the BR4 can be found at revicoptics.com. SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 67
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Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC DBA Whitetail Properties, DBA Whitetail Properties Real Estate. In the States of Nebraska & North Dakota DBA Whitetail Trophy Properties Real Estate LLC. Licensed in CO, MN, ND, SD, TN & WI - Jeff Evans, Broker. Licensed in FL, KS, MO, OH & PA - Jefferson Kirk Gilbert, Broker. Licensed in TX & NM - Joey Bellington, Broker. Licensed in IN - Bill Minor, Broker. Licensed in AL, GA, LA, & MS - Sybil Stewart, Broker. Licensed in TN - Tim Burnette, Broker. Licensed in TN - David Pritchard, Broker. Licensed in AR - Anthony Chrisco, Broker. Licensed in NC, SC, VA - Chip Camp, Broker. Licensed in IA, NC - Richard F. Baugh, Broker. Licensed in MI - Edmund Joel Nogaski, Broker. Licensed in IL, MD, WV - Debbie S. Laux, Broker. Licensed in ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, & WY - Aaron Milliken, Broker. Licensed in NY - John Myers, Real Estate Broker. Licensed in OK - Dean Anderson, Broker. Licensed in KY - Derek Fisher, Broker. Licensed in OH - Jeremy Schaefer, Principal Broker. Licensed in NE - Jason Schendt, Broker
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Above: The ancient Mayan city of Edzna Right: A jungle peccary was an unexpected bonus
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EXPERIENCE
BY TIM HERALD AS I WRITE THIS, I HAVE JUST RETURNED from an adventure in the jungles of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Though I have been fortunate to visit the Amazon a couple of times and jungles in Africa on many occasions, this trip was totally unique. SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 71
RMR2 AND TURKEY HUNTING I have been hunting with a Trijicon RMR Type 2 reflex sight on my turkey gun for years, and nowhere else has this little jewel of a sight shined more than in the jungle. It’s dark and thick in the jungle, especially at dusk and dawn, and having the 3.25 MOA red dot to light up on the spot where you want to center your pattern is a huge help. Sometimes in the jungle, you can’t even see a traditional bead on a shotgun, so the RMR2, completely cures that problem. The RMR2 is super low profile and takes up no room and doesn’t snag on vegetation as you are traversing thick cover. There is also just a huge confidence factor for me with this site, I know if it is 15 yards or 60 yards, if I put that dot on a turkey, I know my shot will be true. There just isn’t any guess work. I have used this sight all over the US and MX for turkeys and it has never let me down. To see more about this site, go to trijicon.com.
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The purpose of the trip started as a hunt for an ocellated turkey which gives you the world slam of turkeys. I had taken 25 grand slams before I was 40 years old, and have killed multiple Gould’s turkeys for Royal Slams, but I never got around to hunting ocellateds. I was part of a group of five hunters that were booked to hunt with Balam Outfitters through Worldwide Trophy Adventures. Balam has been operating in the jungle for decades and boasts virtually 100% success on all species. I flew to Merida, MX, and then transferred two hours to Campeche on the coast. I spent a couple of days there visiting the Mayan ruins at Edzna, and I fished for baby tarpon one day back in the mangroves. Furthermore, I always try to get as much out of a trip as possible, and the Mayan city of Edzna was incredible, dating back to 600AD. Sight fishing for tarpon and other species on ultra-light gear was incredible, we were on fish all morning and seeing them cast to is more like hunting than fishing. The bird and marine life in the mangroves were prolific, and there was never a dull moment. We then drove three hours by van and transferred to open jeeps to drive yet another three hours back into the jungle to our camp. The camp consisted of screened tents, an open eating area, etc. It was comfortable but very basic, and that was part of the adventure. In the jungle, you hunt the turkeys in the trees as the sun comes up and right after it sets as the jungle is so thick, they are almost impossible to ever see on the ground. The first evening, we had a bird singing (the ocellated version of gobbling), and we stalked within 50 yards of him, but he quit singing and dark closed in and we didn’t get a shot in. One great thing about the jungle is that there are multiple unique species to hunt besides turkeys. There are other birds such as crested guan and great curassow, along with peccary and even brockett deer.
Above left, above right: The beautiful Ocellated turkey. Below left: A beautiful female great curassow Below right: Some serious hooks on this bird
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Left: The unique male great curassow Below: The Mayan ruins at Edzna
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Tarpon in the mangroves was a great add on
I was able to take a male guan the first morning as we stalked a small group of them that were chattering and jumping from tree to tree. During the next couple of days, I was also able to take a pair of great curassows. The female was actually whistled in by my guide Daniel. We heard some curassows, and he began a low whistle, and I saw the bird fly from a tree and land about 30 yards away. It began walking toward us and I took the shot when it entered a clearing at 20 steps. I took a male curassow one morning as awe made a 4-mile trek down an old trail. Daniel heard the male’s call which is best described as a base like hum that lasts about a second. We had stalked it a few minutes before I was able to pick up the sound. We ended up almost directly under the large bird as the canopy was so dense. One shot-brought this unique and tasty bird to bag. As we walked back to the jeep, we spotted a small group of jungle peccary feeding in a clearing. After a short stalk, I was able to get a good shot and take the Yucatán’s version of javelina. On our fourth morning we went out, and one of our camp scouts joined Daniel and I. Javier had roosted a bird the night before and said he would take us in on it. In the pitch dark we made our way into the jungle, and using a small, covered flashlight
and only broken twigs as a guide, Javier led us about a half a mile toward where he had seen the bird the evening before. As light barely began penetrating the sky, the turkey sang, and we began scanning the trees and ever so slowly moving toward the noise. Daniel picked the bird out first and pointed it out to me. I used my binocular to confirm that the lump in the tree 35 yards away in fact was the turkey, and then I readied for the shot. Upon the report of my 12 gauge, the bird dropped out of the tree, and I had my world slam. Ocellated turkeys are the smallest of all the turkeys with males generally only weighing 10-12 pounds, but they have the largest spurs of all the turkeys. Though beautiful with all their iridescent shades of aqua, purple, orange, etc., spurs were what I was most concerned with. I was pleasantly surprised with a sharp pair of 1 ¾” daggers on my bird. One hunter in camp got a bird with 2” hooks! We packed up later that day and headed out of the jungle with 100% success for our group. This hunt is not expensive, is close to the USA for an international hunt, and packs in a huge amount of adventure. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique trip whether you are a big-time turkey hunter or not. ★ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 75
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The late Houston Safari Club President Tony Houseman conducted an early "green hunt" for white rhinos. He said that when this picture was taken the animal had been given the antidote and the animal jumped up far quicker than they expected.
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TONY HOUSEMAN AND THE POWER OF OUTDOORS MENTORSHIP
C
PHOTO COURTESY GISELA HOUSEMAN
“
BY CHESTER MOORE, JR.
hester Moore. This is Tony Houseman. Can you be at my office in an hour? I need to speak with you.” “Yes sir. I will be there,” I replied. “Good. See you then,” he said. That was the shortest phone call I had ever taken and one of the most important. At age 20, I had never met Tony Houseman, but I knew who he was. Signs with his name were all over the place in my hometown of Orange, TX, as he and his wife Gisela owned a well-known development company there. More importantly, I knew from reading a newspaper article, he was a hunter, and conservationist and had been president of the Houston Safari Club. When I walked into his office, I was impressed with the kudu, elk, and other mounts on the walls. But I was even more impressed with the man. “Chester, I’ve been reading your articles in the newspaper and I like what you do. You’ve got talent. And that’s why I want you to write about the record red stag I took in New Zealand,” he said. At this point, he slid over a photo of a monster red stag that at that time was the pending SCI world record taken with a muzzleloader.
“Have you written for any magazines yet?” he asked. “Only a local business journal,” I said. “You’re going to write this one for Hunter’s Horn and it will be in the next issue,” he said. I sat there blown away at the opportunity. Getting published in a prestigious publication was great, but Tony’s generosity touched me at a different level. At the time I was literally just starting my career and here was this great man extending a helping hand and giving me an opportunity. It’s something I will never forget. This was my first brush with mentorship. Over the years I would write about various aspects of Tony’s hunting, conservation work, and philanthropy and would always glean some wisdom from our interactions. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was planting seeds for my future role as a mentor to many young people.
A HIGHER CALLING
In 2012, my wife Lisa and I founded Kingdom Zoo Wildlife Center, a ministry centered on giving wildlife encounters to hurting children. We work with kids in the foster system along with kids with critical illness, parental loss, and who have suffered various kinds of abuse and neglect. Three years ago we birthed an offshoot called Higher SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 79
Above: Reannah Hollaway got to take part in a desert bighorn capture at Elephant Mountain Wlidlife Management Area courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife with Chester Moore and his wife Lisa. Reannah is now a senior pursuing wildlife management at Texas Tech. Right: Nathan Childress got to dart an ibex that had escaped its breeding pasture and help move it back. He said the experience of getting to do this and learn more about how game management works inspire him to be pursue a career as a game warden.
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and believes more young people should get involved with wildlife conservation, hunting, and fishing. “It’s a good, wholesome thing to be a part of,” she said.
CARRYING ON THE TRADITION
To honor Tony Houseman and to inspire young people involved in wildlife, we created the Tony Houseman Conservation Legacy Award. In 2020, the first recipient was Reannah Hollaway. After going through our program, she began her journey to work in wildlife biology at Texas Tech. At the time of this writing, she is now a senior there and has done projects with owls in New Mexico and the endangered Attwater’s prairie chicken in Texas. Her first inspiration for conservation was us granting her wish to meet a sea turtle when she was a senior in high school. We followed that with an expedition to take part in a desert bighorn capture at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Emily Odom was the 2021 recipient. Emily was the fifth child
PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE
Calling Wildlife that mentors teens facing special challenges to become wildlife conservationists using social and traditional media. We have taken two boys’ expeditions to the Nueces River to fish for Guadalupe bass, including a 2021 trip funded by a Houston Safari Club Foundation grant. One of the most exciting projects was taking teens Emily Odom and Dustin Wolfe on an Eastern turkey release courtesy of Texas Parks & Wildlife and the National Wild Turkey Federation. “Knowing the birds in the boxes we were carrying had been brought into Texas from Maine and we literally got to release them into the wild was amazing. That one event taught me so much about conservation,” Emily said. Olivia Hogan got to do a shark cage dive in the Texas State Aquarium last summer through the program. “It was a little scary but I have so much more of an appreciation for sharks now. There’s something about getting close to wildlife that makes you really appreciate it,” she said. Olivia loves to hunt with her father Lewis and brother Dalton
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to go through our program and got inspired to get involved in conservation after taking part in the wild turkey release described earlier. “Emily has really stuck with us and she is quite the artist too. She has been using her artwork to help us on a conservation project involving wildlife in Israel. She has now stepped up to do some work on tarpon for a new conservation awareness project that debuted through the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s magazine,” said Lisa Moore, the program’s co-founder. “A few weeks after the turkey release she sent us a beautiful watercolor of a gobbler and we knew we were onto something. Since then, she has been steadily involved in doing wildlife art to raise awareness of conservation.” Emily said it is an honor to win this award and to help people understand issues facing wildlife around the world through art. “I wish I could have met Tony Houseman. It’s people like him that help make the world a better place for wildlife,” Odom said.
COMING FULL CIRCLE
Fourteen-year-old Nathan Childress was nervous. I had been involved in mentoring him since he was eleven and this was the moment we had prepared for. The huge ibex billy he was hunting had eluded him all afternoon, but now it seemed as if he might have an opportunity for a clean shot. The big, beautiful goat was positioned behind a tree, which made a shoulder shot impossible, but the ibex had his head down and was eating. Perhaps he would continue feeding and move out just a few feet, and that’s exactly what happened. With only a few yards of the opening between the tree and a cedar thicket, fourteen-year-old Nathan raised the rifle, placed the crosshair behind the shoulder, and squeezed the trigger. “You missed,” said outfitter Thompson Temple, who was watching with binoculars. “Oh man, I thought I had him,” Nathan replied. “I’m just messing with you. It was a perfect hit. Job well done
Chester Moore took Nathan Childress on a Rio Grande turkey release courtesy of Spring Creek Outdoors and the Rafter K Ranch.
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PHOTOS: CHESTER MOORE
young man,” Temple said. Nathan breathed a sigh of relief, and we all had a good laugh. Now it was time to wait a few minutes for the ibex to go down, but there would be no blood trail to follow. Nathan shot it with a special dart that injects a tranquilizer. Temple needed to inoculate it from disease and move it to another pasture. There, it could mate with a herd of female ibex as part of his ongoing breeding management program. Ten minutes later, we found the ibex. After administering some inoculations, Nathan posed for photos with the animal he had very legitimately hunted. Then we moved it to another pasture. Temple injected it with the antidote, and the billy shot straight up and started walking. He would not have passed any sobriety test with his wobbly strut, but it didn’t take long for him to find his bearings. Soon he was off with the nannies that were calling out in the distance. Emily Odom and Dustin Wolfe got to take part in an Eastern turkey release in Titus County, TX “That’s a little different story than courtesy of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation. This the first dart hunt I ever heard of back was one of the first Higher Calling Wildlife expeditions author Chester Moore put together. in the early 2000s,” I said. “My first outdoor mentor, the late Tony Houseman shot a white rhino as part of a ‘green hunt’ on a remote tract in Southern Africa. They and can do as much for you as it does for them. Don’t just limit dart rhinos and take DNA samples, collect tissue and sometimes this to kids in your family but think about reaching out to kids in collar them to track their movements. He went on one of the early your community. green hunts and now you are doing something similar.” I have met kids in Texas who have never seen a deer or a racNathan smiled and said something very profound for such a coon or a wild hog. They have never caught a fish or been in a boat. young boy. A few years ago, we held a sleepover for boys at our church and did “When you get to experience something like this, it makes you it with a campout theme. We had a grill set up and roasted weenies want to do the right thing for wildlife. It makes you want to get and marshmallows. Numerous kids as old as 12 had never done that. involved with conservation,” he said. Think about that for a second. There are children in our area that Nathan said his dream is to become a game warden. have never done anything related to camping, much less hunting, The last story I did on Tony was about his rhino green hunt and and fishing. A decade from now, the kid you buy an iPad for won’t I can’t help but think he would have loved to have been there for remember that, but he or she will remember the day they caught Nathan’s experience to cheer him on and tell some of his trademark their first redfish or shot their first hog. safari hunting stories. You can do very simple things to help keep kids inspired. Send them messages periodically about your trips to the great MENTORING MATTERS outdoors. Share cool videos and photos about their favorite animals At no point in history has mentorship mattered more than in and use your social media to salute them when they do participate the world of hunting, fishing, and conservation. in an outdoor event. Get them a membership to the Houston Safari Our tech-savvy culture gives kids thousands of alternatives to Club Foundation, where they can read Hunter’s Horn and get Bush outdoor activities and without guidance, many will never have the Telegraph updates. opportunity or the inspiration to take up the cause we believe in. Mentorship doesn’t have to be vast amounts of time. It just needs The kids in our lives despite how much they might beg for the to be sincere and intentional. latest electronic technology really crave time with us. A commitKids love to feel as if they are a part of something; and truthment to spend time and mentor them in the great outdoors could fully, they have much to offer. Kids’ hearts are much purer than ours be the definitive event in their young life where you can speak life, so when you get them involved you get all of them involved. And blessings, and strength to them. that’s something we could use in the world of hunting, fishing, and Maybe you are a master duck caller or have a deep knowledge wildlife conservation. ★ of whitetail behavior. Perhaps you can work a topwater plug better than most or have a real knack for finding redfish in the marsh. You can learn more about Chester Moore’s outdoors mentoring projects Passing on this knowledge to youngsters is deeply rewarding at highercalling.net. SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 83
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SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 85
ER
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SOUTH TEXAS R
TURKEYS & FELLOWSHIP
LIFE MEM
MEM
BE
HSCF PARTNER TURKEY HUNT By Joe Betar, HSCF Executive Director
T
he spring turkey season has become one of my favorite times of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy any type of hunting and the opportunity it provides to be outside. As I have matured as a hunter, it is completely satisfying to simply sit and observe the scenery and wildlife around me. Whether it’s watching Green Jays stealing corn under a feeder in south Texas or being surprised by the aggressive grunt of a wild boar from the brush as the sun sets, they both pique my curiosity. Having grown up in Louisiana, I was not exposed to turkey hunting until I later moved to Texas as an adult. The majority of my time as a youth was spent walking forests of Loblolly and Longleaf Pine and stepping quietly through beds of fallen Red Oak acorns, attempting to be stealth enough to sneak up on a squirrel or rabbit. When duck season arrived, you could usually find me in a blind on a bayou, trying my best to coax Mallard ducks into a decoy spread, or hiding in the tall grass of the sloughs behind my house waiting for Wood ducks to drop into a narrow slice of muddy water. Much to my mother’s relief, I preferred to be in the woods or on the water instead of running the streets in search of the usual teenage mischief. I fondly remember fall Saturday mornings sitting in a duck blind comparing bruises with my friends—badges of honor we collected during high school football games the night before. Noted caller and game call manufacturer Gary Robertson, 86 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
owner of Burnham Brothers Game Calls, first introduced me to turkey hunting about sixteen years ago. I watched and learned as he called in Rio Grande turkeys near the San Saba River in Menard, Texas. The following season, I was able to call in my first Tom after weeks of trying in vain to lure in a mature bird. It just so happens, that Rio sported four beards. I didn’t even know turkeys could have multiple beards. The main thing I remember from that day and continue to be amazed by every time I observe these birds, is watching a mature Tom strut. The spreading fan of the tail feathers. The expansion of the bird’s chest. The iridescent plumage reflecting the early morning sun as it moves through the dew-covered grass of the field in the morning. Then there’s that gobble coming from only a few yards away as a Tom announces to everyone in the pasture, “This is my house. I’m the boss here and all you ladies should be checking me out.”. It makes my heart race every time. Needless to say, I am hooked. In the fall of 2021, I reconnected with an old friend, Leo Martinez, manager of the Dancing Elk Alexander (DEA) Ranch (dearanch.com). Leo informed me he offered limited turkey hunting on his place, just north of Corpus Christi, Texas. DEA Ranch also offers outstanding hunting for White-tailed deer, elk and other exotics and dove. When he sent me video of the turkey flocks moving around the property, I could tell he was running an outstanding management and habitat program for these birds.
Above: Barret and Tristan Simpson, Conroe Taxidermy Below: Mike Tippit, Capital Farm Credit Right: DEA Ranch Manager Leo Martinez and Jeff Crane of Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
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SAUER SL5 Turkey Bottom Land Camo
Fast forward to the spring 2022 turkey season when we hosted our sponsors at DEA Ranch. We weren’t sure what to expect but we were hopeful everyone would have an opportunity to call in a bird during the two weekends we spent with Leo and his staff. The weekends provided an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the people who support HSCF on an ongoing basis. The generous support of these sponsors helps HSCF fulfill its mission to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation and the promotion of our hunting heritage. What better way to show our appreciation and get to know people than sharing time in the field and around a campfire? Fellowship is one of the greatest benefits of the hunting experience. The first weekend of the season, we were joined by Jason Evans, CEO of Blaser Group, Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and Barret Simpson and Tristan Simpson of Conroe Taxidermy. Jason was kind enough to bring along the new Sauer SL5 Turkey shotgun for field testing before its release to the public. The SL5 is a short-barreled, 3”, 12-gauge with an inertia-driven autoloader. The SL5 comes with a Red fiber-optic but is also optics-ready with a Picatinny rail and features a built-in pistol grip. The SL5 also features an aftermarket Carlson’s .665 turkey choke and weighs in at only seven pounds, making it easy to carry in the field and suitable to perch on your knee when a big Tom is within shooting range. HSCF Board member Ross Melinchuk was kind enough to join us for both weekends, providing expert guiding and calling for members of both parties. Ross, unlike me, knows when to be patient and talk sparingly to these birds. I tend to be a little quicker to the call when I see birds. Ross is still teaching me patience in this arena. Ross was able to communicate with a few turkeys but for the most part, they fell silent once they descended from the morning roost. This tends to be the case when Toms are still courting hens and the hens have not started nesting. We saw many birds, including numerous hens, a great crop of Jakes, and plenty of mature Toms. The heat and wind hampered our efforts on some days. Considering all of these factors, we decided being in the right place at the right time was going to be our best bet. Each morning and afternoon, we positioned ourselves in high traffic areas to and from water and feeding areas. When that didn’t work, we resorted to locating birds and moving to their vicinity. While the Toms were mostly unresponsive to calls and decoys, the hens and Jakes complied, pulling Toms in with them. The second weekend we were joined by Dustin Knutson,
CEO of Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks, Mike Tippit, Senior Vice President of Capital Farm Credit, HSCF President Jeff Birmingham and HSCF Treasurer, JD Burrows. The conditions were the same as the first weekend, forcing us to resort to the same tactics as the previous hunt. While the birds eluded Dustin all weekend, he was able to take a beautiful Scimitar-horned oryx one afternoon. Dustin was awarded ‘longest commute’ as he drove all the way down to Texas from his home base in South Dakota. While he may have departed Texas without a turkey, he did drive home with a vehicle full of fresh oryx. I had several interesting encounters over the weekend. One morning, I spotted a large coyote that was missing its tail. After providing a few hen clucks on a slate call, the coyote turned and ran straight for us. If I would have had a rifle, or had he run a few yards closer, we may have had an opportunity. But as it tends to do, the wind shifted, alerting him to our location. It did not help that he was already en route to the area of the turkey roost. Needless to say, when the birds came down that morning, they moved quickly in a direction away from us. On the following weekend, I encountered a lone wild boar that tipped the scales at about two hundred pounds. Unfortunately, he never came close enough for a shot nor was I carrying a caliber capable of taking down the menacing beast. I’m thinking I need to schedule a trip back out to the DEA Ranch to assist in predator and hog control. That would be a suitable excuse to return simply for the incredible food provided by the ranch’s head Chef, Angela Gomez. The ever-present table full of snacks was barely touched either weekend. I blame Angela. The meals she prepared included fried shrimp and fish, boiled crawfish, brisket and Tomahawk steaks. The breakfast table was filled with everything from fresh barbacoa, to made to order eggs and breakfast tacos. I would be remiss if I did not mention the fresh salsas accompanying each breakfast. Our out-of-town guests were provided a true Texas dining and hospitality experience. Did I mention the afternoon ‘hold you over till dinner’ treats? Charcuterie boards featuring wild game meats and sausages, cheeses and deviled goose eggs. Both weekends proved to be outstanding opportunities to make new friends, tell stories around the campfire and do what we all love to do—spend time in the field with people who share our passion for hunting and conservation. Thank you to our sponsors for their continued support and thank you to Leo and all the staff at DEA Ranch for providing long-lasting memories of a south Texas turkey hunt. ★
While the Toms were mostly unresponsive to calls and decoys, the hens and Jakes complied, pulling Toms in with them.
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Jeff Birmingham, HSCF President
JD Burrows, HSCF Treasurer and past President
HSCF Board member Ross Melinchuk
Dustin Knutson, Boyds Hardwood Gunstocks
Jason Evans, Blaser Group
Jeff Crane of Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
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866.377.3000 90 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
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DAN L. DUNCAN
2021 Scholarship Updates Habitat Selection & Survival Of Scaled Quail Across A Gradient Of Oil And Gas Development In The Permian Basin, Texas. BY BROOKE BOWMAN PROJECT IMPORTANCE & UPDATE:
The Permian Basin of Texas supports a large portion of the oil and gas industry in the United States and is expected to expand in the future. However, the region supports a variety of wildlife, including the scaled quail (Callipepla squamata), which provide an economic, ecological, and cultural benefit to the state of Texas and whose range encompasses the entire region. West Texas scaled quail populations have been in decline since the early 1960’s due to a combination of factors. Our goal is to determine if oil and gas development and infrastructure affect habitat selection and survival of scaled quail in the Permian Basin. By providing information of where scaled quail are likely to occur, oil companies can implement strategies to mitigate the impacts of oil and gas development on scaled quail populations as development continues to increase. We deployed global positioning system (GPS) transmitters recording 4-hour fixes on scaled quail across designated areas on the Quail Ranch LLC (QR) and the Cross-L Ranch LLC (CLR). The designated study site on the QR has minimal oil and gas activity, while the designated study areas on the CLR have high oil and gas activity. Trap sites were set up at known feeder sites and areas where quail have commonly occurred due to lowerthan-average population observations on both ranches in
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Picture 1: Brooke Bowman and Dr. Ryan Luna with the first scaled quail trapped on the Quail Ranch property, Upton County, Texas, March 2021.
Table 1. Age breakdown of scaled quail trapped and banded on the QR and CLR, Upton County,
Out of 133 quail captured in the non-breeding season, 35 transmitters were deployed and
Texas, 2021 – 2022. Season Juvenile Breeding Non-breeding
14 have been retrieved thus far. The viability of the retrieved points is currently being evaluated,
23 107
Adult
and remaining transmitters are being searched for. There has been a high rate of technological
Total Captured Quail
failure across both field seasons and a low trapping rate. This has made it difficult to retrieve
35 26
58 133 being collected, birds are being trapped, and methods are being modified to accommodate for 191 large numbers of GPS points that were intended for this project. Nevertheless, points are still
small sample sizes. Table 1: Age breakdown of scaled quail trapped and banded on the QR and CLR, Upton County, Texas, 2021 – 2022.
2021. Twenty-seven trap sites and twenty-nine trap sites were designated for trapping efforts on the QR and CLR, respectively. Walk-in funnel traps baited with milo were used to trap quail in the breeding season 2021 (March – August) and in the non-breeding season (October – February). Morphological characteristics measured include sex, age, and weight (g). Aluminum leg bands with unique ID numbers were placed on the left legs of all trapped quail. Selected quail were fitted with backpack-style 4-6 g GPS and radio transmitters that recorded latitude and longitude coordinates every 240 minutes in Central Standard Time (Picture 1). Radio telemetry was performed during daylight hours to track quail locations and to monitor bird mortality. Backpacked quail with detectable very high frequency (VHF) radio signals were recaptured 3-4 weeks post-capture via radio telemetry during the night while birds were roosting to download points and replace devices. Step selection functions will be utilized to study resource selection of scaled quail across the two study sites using collected GPS locations and a set of environmental grids. Out of 58 quail captured in the breeding season (Table 1), 30 transmitters total were deployed and 11 of those yielded viable points. Of 2,471 GPS locations recorded, 946 points were taken Figure 1: Scaled quail locations recorded on the Quail Ranch during the Scaled quail locations recorded on the Quail Ranch during the 2021 breeding season, on the QR in the designated control area (Figure 1), andFigure 1. 2021 breeding season, Upton County, Texas, USA. These points do not Texas, USA. These points do not correspond with individual quail. 1,525 points were taken on the CLR in the designatedUpton County, correspond with individual quail. developed areas (Figure 2). Out of 133 quail captured in the non-breeding season, 35 transmitters were deployed and 14 have been retrieved thus far. The viability of the retrieved points is currently being evaluated, and remaining transmitters are being searched for. There has been a high rate of technological failure across both field seasons and a low trapping rate. This has made it difficult to retrieve large numbers of GPS points that were intended for this project. Nevertheless, points are still being collected, birds are being trapped, and methods are being modified to accommodate for small sample sizes.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS:
Since receiving this award, I completed two graduate classes in fall 2021 and am in the progress of finishing two other graduate courses this spring. I received A’s in both Interdisciplinary Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and in Biostatistical Analysis Theory. I am on track to receive A’s in Biostatistical Analysis Applications and in Scientific Writing this semester. Thus far, I have been able to maintain a 4.0 standing. I need to defend my thesis and complete two more classes to graduate from the Range & Wildlife Management master’s program at Sul Ross State University.
Figure 2. Scaled quail locations recorded onrecorded the Cross-Lon Ranch theRanch 2021 breeding Figure 2: Scaled quail locations the during Cross-L during
theUpton 2021County, breeding season, Upton County, USA. These points do season, Texas, USA. These points do notTexas, correspond with individual quail. not correspond with individual quail.
Academic Progress: Since receiving this award, I completed two graduate classes in fall 2021 and am in the progress of finishing two other graduate courses this spring. I received A’s in both ™ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN 93 Interdisciplinary Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and in Biostatistical Analysis Theory. I am on track to receive A’s in Biostatistical Analysis Applications and in Scientific Writing this
Danielle Deming Dear Houston Safari Club Foundation Members, It is my pleasure to be writing to you as a Dan L. Duncan scholarship recipient. It was such a treat to attend this year’s convention in Houston, in person, and meet so many wildlife enthusiasts and supporters of conservation. As spring begins, I am missing the Mojave Desert landscape and fieldwork studying coyotes. Last year, I spent 6 months in Twentynine Palms, CA conducting my two sampling seasons. For my research project, I use non-invasive sampling techniques for genetic modeling, which is a glamorous way to say that I collect scat! I am looking to create a population model based on Mark-recapture methods by amplifying DNA from these samples. I am also looking at the dietary habits of the coyote population and am especially interested in potential predation on the endangered Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise and dependency on human subsidized food items. What’s unique about my project is that I use my personally
Megan Granger Dear Houston Safari Club Foundation Members, I am honored and thankful to be a second-year recipient of the Dan L. Duncan scholarship. The Houston Safari Club has supported me throughout my graduate school experience at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and for that, I am forever grateful. I have spent this last year finishing up my thesis project on “Population Demographics of Nilgai Antelope in South Texas”. My thesis project had 3 main components that looked into aging nilgai, nilgai reproductive capabilities, and assessing nilgai habitat structure. Through this research we have been able to determine 6 age classes for female nilgai based on
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trained detection dog Radar as part of my survey methods. Radar has been working as a detection dog for over three years and has worked on four projects. Now that sampling is over, he gets to be on vacation while I chug along in my lab analysis phase! While back in Texas, I am the secretary of our graduate student organization, the Association of Natural Resource Scientists. I have helped put on many social and service events, as well as coordinate our seminar series. We were able to bring in seven speakers this year, which provides our members potential collaboration efforts or job opportunities. It is truly an honor to help build our community of natural resource professionals and help support our member’s needs! I cannot be more grateful for the assistance provided by this scholarship. With this gift, I have been able to attend wildlife conservation conferences, pay for tuition fees, and fund gear for my dog and me necessary for field sampling.
tooth eruptions and wear, determine that nilgai have high reproductive rates and commonly twin, and determine specific habitat characteristics of the landscapes that they commonly use. In the fall of 2021, I successfully defended this research and graduated with a master’s degree in Range and Wildlife Management. My time at TAMUK and the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute has prepared me for a career in wildlife science. I started that career as a wildlife biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in January 2022. I am so thankful to the Houston Safari Club Foundation for supporting me and providing me with the resources I needed to reach my goals in the wildlife field. Sincerely, Megan Granger Range and Wildlife Management, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Thank you again to the Houston Safari Club Foundation members, the Dan L. Duncan scholarship committee, and especially Gary Rose for making all this possible for so many years! Should any member of the HSCF wish to discuss my research in greater detail, please feel free to reach out using the contact information below. Kind regards, Danielle Deming Master’s Student, Texas Tech University, NRM ddeming@ttu.edu
Angela Grogan Dear Houston Safari Club Foundation Members, I wish again to express my sincere gratitude to your committee for selecting me for the Dan L. Duncan Scholarship. I appreciate the philanthropy your organization has done to help college students and graduate students like myself fulfill our dreams. I am writing this letter to provide an update on myself as part of the requirements. I completed another successful field season of sample collection of hunterharvested deer samples from the Chronic Wasting Disease check stations operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the Texas Panhandle. Preliminary data management counts have suggested I have doubled my efforts from the 2020-2021 season with approximately 400 individual samples collected. I am still working through these samples to prepare them for archival at the Natural Science Research Laboratory at the Museum of Texas Tech University. Part of my thesis research has been to assess whether pronghorn could be susceptible to prion diseases like chronic wasting disease. After receiving approximately 100 individual pronghorn samples from both Texas and New Mexico, I have sequenced 53 individuals for exon 3 of the prion protein gene. Those preliminary results have indicated that pronghorn might be susceptible to chronic wasting disease and might exhibit a Cervid form of the disease. Examination of the current literature has indicated that pronghorn have never been looked at for prion disease susceptibility, aside from one publication by Cullingham et al (2019). There have been no challenge studies and no positive cases of prion disease in pronghorn. However, nationwide pronghorn are sympatric with CWD susceptible species like elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer, and pronghorn feeding habits might provide a potential transmission route. I presented these preliminary results at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the results seemed to be well received. Currently, I am working on finishing sequencing the
remaining 47 individuals from Texas and New Mexico, as well as obtaining samples from other states with pronghorn populations such as Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and potentially Oregon to increase my sample size and geospatial extent of my analyses. Since starting at Texas Tech University in 2020, I had become a member of the Texas Tech Women’s Lacrosse Club. I had played the sport in high school and while I ran track and cross country during my college years, I had really missed playing lacrosse. I decided to join the club as a way to meet new people at Texas Tech and to get back to playing the sport. This year, I was elected to be treasurer of the club, and look forward to my duties in the upcoming year. In terms of my own hunting, I am pleased to report that I was able to harvest my first white-tailed deer, a 9-point buck back in November. We had originally thought him to be a 6 point through our binoculars, he actually was a 9 point. I was pleased with my shot, taken from 98 yards, which had dropped him almost instantly. One of my goals was to take this animal as humanely as possible, of which I was successful. Another goal was to begin teaching my rescue dog, Calypso, to find
and retrieve dove. She is a pit bull mixed with some sort of sporting breed and has a ton of drive so we hoped she might like to go dove hunting. She is the dog pictured with me in the photo I submitted originally. We were initially worried she would not like the noise of our shotguns going off, as she is afraid of fireworks, but to our surprise, she quickly learned that with dove hunting, there is something for her as well. While we were only able to get a couple of birds for her to find, she learned what her job was quicker than we had anticipated. Our next goal for her is to teach her to find shed antlers on the hunting property. Again, I wanted to take the time to thank you and your organization for choosing me to be a scholarship recipient. As a first-generation college student who relied heavily on scholarships during my undergraduate career, having the opportunity to apply and receive scholarships as a graduate student is with no doubt, a blessing. With Gratitude, Angela M. Grogan Department of Natural Resources Management Texas Tech University
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FALL 2020 HUNTER'S HORN™ 37
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 97
Above: Larry Green
LOOKiNG
BACK By Tommy Morrison Below: Dick Teel
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Left: Ron Kiengeay Below left: Carole Henderson & Ray Petty Below Right: Jerry Henderson & Mark Van Ness Bottom: Frank Comiskey
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100 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 101
Author, Professional Hunter Luke Samaras, fellow hunter Guy Gorney
DAGGA BOY
TRIFECTA W
By Mike Jines
hat do you get when you take a group of older, seasoned African hunters and team them with older, seasoned African professional hunters then set out to chase mature dagga boy buffalo bulls? There is a quote often attributed to Mark Twain that says, “Age is an issue of mind over matter; if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” While aching backs and knees might beg to differ with such a characterization, certainly age is as much a state of mind as anything else. And it seems that many who love the wild and raw experience that is called true African hunting are prepared to put off sitting on the porch in a rocking chair in favor of at least one more trip to the Dark 102 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
Continent for as long as Father Time will allow. In October 2021, I joined a group of six other likeminded hunters to head to the Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania. Our group ranged in age from 52 to 69 with six of the seven hunters in their sixties. We were being guided by a group of four professional hunters, three of whom ranged in age from 69 to 77. I jokingly referred to the safari as the geriatric safari and chuckled about starting each day with a group shot of Geritol. In truth, however, the energy and commitment of the group would have easily matched that of hunters and guides far younger. The group was being hosted by Luke Samaras Safaris. Luke Samaras Safaris has been operating in
Above: Team with ancient dagga boy bull Below: Traditional tented camp at night
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the same four blocks of the Selous for more than four decades. Their passionate stewardship of the area shows. Game populations are abundant and behave in a manner showing that they are not unduly pressured by hunting. At night one could lay in bed and listen to lions, hyenas, and leopards calling. Wild Africa. My professional hunter for our 10-day buffalo hunt would be Luke Samaras. Luke is an icon in the African hunting community. A humble and soft-spoken man, he began his career in 1969. I would not be going out on a limb when I say that Luke Samaras has forgotten more about dangerous game hunting in Africa than many professional hunters will ever know. And do not let Luke’s age lull you into believing that he is in the twilight of his hunting career. Far from it. As I can attest, Luke’s stamina and drive are that of a far younger man. A safari is so much more than just pulling the trigger. Exploring a new area, meeting new people, time around the campfire with friends, are the sorts of things that all make a safari memorable.
On this trip it was particularly a privilege to share time with Luke at lunch and around the campfire and hear his perspective on subjects ranging from the future of hunting to changing attitudes among hunters, from changes to the Selous such as the new dam being built on the Rufiji to preferences in hunting rifles and calibers, and so on. The latter topic was especially interesting since Luke and I were both hunting with Rigby bolt action rifles chambered in .416 Rigby. Luke’s rifle was built in the 1980’s and mine is a currently manufactured version. Luke’s rifle has been a faithful partner in the field for almost 40 years; my rifle was making its maiden voyage to Africa. I have often said that if rifles could speak, what stories some could tell. I am sure that Luke’s rifle could make for an entertaining evening around the campfire for sure. While our 10-day hunting license included a smattering of plains game, the focus of the hunt for the group was primarily on buffalo, that and to a lesser extent, the Nyasa Wildebeest found
The dagga boy hunters, from left to right, Jay Cohea, Tim Herald, Guy Gorney, Ernie Stone, author, Russell Marshall, Casey Terry
104 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2022
only in the Selous. Over the course of the hunt our group was fortunate to hunt and take 13 mature, hard-bossed buffalo bulls. As I told Luke at the outset of the hunt, my focus was less on width and/or drop, but more on taking an older, wellworn dagga boy. One morning about halfway through the hunt we were driving along one of the hunting roads when one of the trackers spotted a group of three dagga boys off in the distance on a slight rise that dropped into a small valley. Luke checked the wind and made the decision to try and track and stalk the bulls to get a better look at group. We eventually caught the bulls standing under a small tree. Two of the bulls began to move off slowly down the back side of the hill toward the small valley. The third bull lingered on the rise and looked back in our direction. We could tell that he was a mature bull with horns that had been rubbed almost completely slick. The shooting sticks went up and I dropped the Rigby onto the sticks for the shot. At the shot the buffalo disappeared over the back of the rise in the direction of the other two bulls. We moved up the hill and around to the backside of the rise. We could see the bull was down. Approaching cautiously, we paid the insurance with a second shot and the bull expired. For a dagga boy hunter and his dagga boy professional hunter, we had certainly connected with an appropriate dagga boy trophy. The bull’s boss was smooth and devoid of any ridges. His ears were tattered and torn, his face was almost completely white, and his body condition was poor, with his hip bones showing. We noticed that one of his rear legs had been previously broken and re-healed. Luke estimated that the buffalo was probably 14-15 and would have succumbed to lions in the near future. A perfect trophy. On the last day of the hunt, we shared with Luke an experience that epitomizes the man’s love for the Selous. As we were driving around that morning we came upon a group of three elephant bulls browsing under a tree. Luke stopped the vehicle and approached the bulls, watching them quietly. It was a poignant moment for a man who has spent years in the Selous and seen many changes in the reserve. To see three bulls peacefully browsing in an area where in recent times the elephant population had been poached to near extinction, represented hope for the future of the area. That hope was apparent on Luke’s face. If a hunt is truly the sum of its parts it would be hard to beat the
A pair of Rigby rifles, old and new
total on this one. A hunt in the legendary Selous Game Reserve guided by one of the doyens of the African hunting community. Joined by six wonderful friends and hunting associates. Carrying a renowned Rigby rifle chambered in the emblematic African caliber .416 Rigby. Taking a mature dagga boy buffalo. So what do you get when you take a group of older, seasoned African hunters and team them with older, seasoned African professional hunters then set out to chase mature dagga boy buffalo bulls? A dagga boy trifecta, what else! ★ SUMMER 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 105
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